Diagnosis

I would like to know what conclusions I can draw from a serious of tests regarding a possible case of hepatitis and whether I am a candidate for any early stage Hepatitis C medication to take all available precautions. I am a 34 year old male with no history of significant medical problems.  Over the last several years I would say that my drinking has been significant (5-7 drinks during the week and 10-20 on weekends).

Testing timeline and results were as follows:

The timeline started with a routine lab examination that turned up very high levels of AST (268) and ALT (431). Only other results that were slightly out of the norm were monocitos (1%) and Leucocitos (3.8).

4 days later (with no drinking) results were AST (115) and ALT (236)and GGT (18) with tests for Hep B and C Anticore, Hep C Ig G, and Antig. superficie all negative, which I understand from my doctor rules out existing chronic hepatitis A or B but not necessarily acute hepatitis C due to a significant window period.

24 days subsequent (no drinking) a test resulted in AST (25.2) and ALT (33.4) with a Hep A Ig G positive and Hep A Ig M negative.  The positive I understand is due to my Hep A vaccination I had 5-6 years ago.

During this period I have been both stressed and depressed due to anxiety over the initial results which indicated some form of hepatitis. There was one afternoon with some slight fever and one 2 day case of mild diarrhea.  Its difficult to tell if these instances are related, unrelated or brought on by stress.

[honey1616]

Stress can do alot but I don't think you would run fever from it. Its possible that you just had a 24 hour virus and making you feel bad.  Your alt and ast came down considerably so maybe get another hep c test just to be sure... Good Luck!

[Soleus]

Alcohol destroys more livers than all the hep

[Tony-z]

I think the first and most important question is how much and how often did you Drink?

That in itself could be the major factor!!!


             God Bless

             TonyZ

[cuteus]

you do not comment on possible risky behaviors that might indicate exposure to hep c. enzymes alone are not indicative of infection.  If there is a possibility that you might have come in contact with blood or byproducts of a hep c infected person, then get tested again in a few months with a sensitive qualitative test. other than ruling out all the viral hepatitis, your drs will have to come up with further tests and referrals, maybe even a biopsy to rule out autoimune conditions.
good luck

[jonihs]

Tony is right about the time frame for alcohol if the virus has been present a long time!   Joni

[alcan]

Thanks for all the comments.  

As several posters emphasized, the most important action is to test again, which I will do next week (PCR).
  

FYI: Regarding alcohol, my doctor keeps emphasizing to me that it takes many many years of extremely heavy drinking to be the primary cause of high ALT (consistent with one post stating that ALT did not rise until the period right before liver failure) and he believes there is some form of viral hepatitis or other driving factor in my case.  Also, I understand that AST is usually higher than ALT in alcohol related cases.  My results are reversed.




  

[Tony-z]

If you've had hepatitis-c or B for many years and drink heavily for a short time, it could destroy your liver very quickly. Again about how much do you drink a day - week?

                
                  TonyZ

[alcan]

Over the last few years - (on average: 5-7 drinks during the week and 10-20 on weekends)

Is it possible to have had Hep C for many years and then get a negative result on a antibody test?

[jonihs]

I am a recovering alcoholic and I was in rehab 8 times between 1983 and 2002. My ALT and AST never showed high until 1999 and they were only slightly elevated. In 2001, Nov. was the first time they showed significantly high for concern. In July 2002, my liver failed and my Dr. was shocked that my liver had gone so fast from Feb. til then. That's why they tested for Hep., because with only alcohol it probably would not have happened that fast. 3-5 years compared to 5 months. Joni

[cuteus]

if you had hep c, a or b, your body will always show positive for antibodies.