Chronic case of Hepatitis C

[puneet145]

My Dad is suffering from Hepatitis C since October 2004. He had undergone the interferon therapy but remission occured after 2-3 months. Since then he has been on medication. Recently he got his reports:

SGOT:152
SGPT:137
GGTP:234
AP: 194

Is it ok for GGTP be elevated in Hepatitis C or it could be indicative of cirrhosis?

[Kristina538]

The first two results are an indication of the level of inflammation in the liver, without being an indication of the level of damage that the liver has; while those result may seem high, they can fluctuate in HCV patients;  the AP assists with monitoring for biliary duct blockages, as does the GGT.

However, GGT also rises in people who drink alcohol (or too much alcohol).   Any alcohol for a Hep C patient is too much alcohol, given that our livers are under attack already.  You can google blood test results...

It's not really OK for any to be elevated whether a Hep C patient or not.  However, if you've carried the virus over time, eventually some, or all of those levels will increase.  I had early cirrhosis with levels not too disimilar, but did manage to beat the virus eventually with treatment.  Prior to treatment I had to concentrate on healthy living to try to keep my levels in check until they eventually climbed regardless.

Hopefully you and your Dad have got a good hepatologist to assist you with the many decisions he'll be facing;  I hope he's able to get on some of the newer treatment options that may be available for him.

He's lucky to have such a caring daughter, and by the way, welcome to this site, which has been very supportive, if not life-saving, over my Hep C battle.  Wishing you both the best in this exhaustive battle!!

[HectorSF]

Do you mean your father was diagnosed or developed symptoms and complications of hepatitis C in 2004?

What medicine is he on?

It is normal for these tests to be abnormal as your father is experiencing damage to his liver. There are many things that can cause damage to the liver. Not just hepatitis C. Only a gastroenterologist or hepatologist can diagnose the cause or causes of your fathers liver condition.

There numbers unfortunately tell nothing about whether you father has cirrhosis of the liver of not. The standard test is a liver biopsy. It should be performed on your father if the doctor thinks he might have extensive liver damage. This is where a doctor will take small pieces of his liver and look at it under a microscope. If your father is already so ill that he is showing signs of cirrhosis then he may not need a biospy. Again his doctor would be the person with the answer to your question.

It would be best if you went with your father to his appointments so you could ask the doctor your questions.

Good luck to you and your father.
Hector

[Sentinel13]

My gamma GTPs were elevated in 2002 and I didn't have cirrhosis. The GGTPs were elevated along with most of my other liver function test numbers (similar to your father).

You mention your father is on medication. Hep-C meds? If yes, which meds?

Has your father had a liver biopsy? If yes, when and what was the result?