Elevated AST and ALT?

My husband of 13 yrs. just had a bloodwork before his physical in 2 weeks.  His ALT and AST scores were something like 93 and 63, respectively.  He has a 30 yr. history of alcohol consumption (he drinks about a half large bottle of wine per night or 4-5 beers/daily.  I also have Hep C from a blood transfusion over 31 years ago and am treatment for that now.  I am hoping against hope that he does not have Hep C, and simply needs to cut back on the alcohol.  His sugar levels were elevated, too.  His dr. just ordered bloodwork for Hep C to rule it out...now I'm in nail-biting mode.  Can anyone give me any hope/advice/etc. on the likelihood of it being just over-drinking vs. Hep C, given his ALT and AST scores?

[NYgirl]

I had to think too for a minute.

While his enzymes could be elevated from either the alcohol on it's own OR the fact that he drinks so much and DOES maybe have hepC...the simple fact is...something is KILLING the cells in his liver.

Being that I am a recovering alcoholiic/addict I know how hard it can be to give up the wine, believe me, but it sounds to me like he has to.

if he has hepC then well there is no choice but to quit.
but if he doesn't have hepC it sounds like he may have liver damage anyway.

HepC will compound the affects of alcohol many, many times over and that's what happened to me (I am a stage 3 and never knew I had it).

Either way if he values his life he has to stop drinking.  

I wish you all the best with his test results.  I'm thinking since he was already tested it's the booze killing his liver but...since it could be both I'll say a little prayer for you.

[willows]

Boy, I had to think about your post for awhile.  Not because there is any way to tell you what you want to know, but because I'm not sure which would concern me more, consuming alcohol and then trying to quit or contracting Hep C and then trying to get cured.  Both are equally challenging tasks.  But if your liver is telling you by way of ALT/AST that it is unhappy, I think the organ needs to be listened to.  

As far as nail biting, stop.  We will all live a long time with Hep C, most of us will live a lot longer if we don't drink, but those are personal choices.  Myself, man, I miss an ice cold Kamikaze in the summer, but I never had an issue with alcohol, so haven't had a drink in 4 years.  Wish the cigarettes were as easy!!  My liver is very happy with me.  I laugh a lot, eat very well, rest like a cat and walk everyday.  These are easy things too!!  

Finding out whether your husband has Hep C is important information, information you both need to make good choices about staying healthy and living a long, goofy life.  I will watch the board as I do not know if there is a way to tell if the ALT/AST screaming numbers can tell you what you want to know.  Me, I like to be smart, to know all I can, even if it is hard to hear the first time.  After a while, hearing about Hep C just makes me remember why I am so strong, why I will carry the sword of interferon and try not cut off my damn leg with it.  Good luck to you with your own tx and I'm gonna hope your husband processes whatever information he recieves in a postive way.  
Willow

[Kalio1]

Has he ever been tested for Hep C before? Wait and see if he is positive and what genotype he is before you start to worry he has it and you caused it.
There are numerous reasons for raised LFT's. He should probably try to lay of the alcohol until you find out what is causing it and until they are in the normal range. Here are a few reasons for raised LFT's:

Autoimmune hepatitis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Drugs or toxins,Alcohol, Fatty liver, Growths (i.e., tumors)
Hemodynamic disorder (congestive heart failure)
Iron (hemochromatosis), copper (Wilson's disease) or alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency ,Muscle strain

[Tcorm]

Yes, he was tested for Hep C 7 yrs. ago after I found out I was affected. (after being declined from a life insurance policy--Big Shock).  He tested negative.  We're careful about not sharing razors, etc., but I cannot be certain we never picked up each other's razor by mistake.

[way]

Mine are elevated also!! I'm in week 12/24. (2b-low begining VL- stage1 grade2)

I just got blood drawn last week and I was curious so I had them also check my TSH and enzymes with the regular cbc and enzymes are real high--higher than before I started TX..

AST--58
ALT--62

My four week pcr was und. so I thought my enzymes would be back to normal or at least lower- NOT HIGHER!!

What could be the reason for this? Should I be concerned?

On the upside my wbc went up from 3.3 to 3.4= and my rbc went from 3.84 to 3.62.

My platelets went UP from 193 to 211
My abn went up also from 1.6 to 1.9

and monocytes went down from 17 to 13

I guess it could be worse.e

[way]

Oh yeah --My hemoblobin is 11.9 from 12.2

[sfbaygirl]

That is strange, usually they go down I thought. I could be totally wrong. My alkaline phostease went up during tx. I was worried. Have you talked to the dr? Was this your first labs? If not what were the LFT's before this? Strange that platelets rising, huh???? Wish I could tell you something, but I don't know.

Your Hgb hasn't dropped much. Are you taking enough Riba?


I think you ought to give your dr. a call and ask him about all of the labs. Don't you hate it when it's the weekend and the dr's gone? That happened to me last weekend.

Linda

[way]

I talked to dr today but didn't get to check my labs before I saw him. I asked how my my blood was... He said the cbc was OK. Then when I asked the nurse for a copy I saw he had circled the enzymes in pen. This Doctor is not real great, and takes very little time with me (won't treat my sx-tells me to go to pcp for that) but he does know what hes doing. He always asks how I am before he OK's me for another month of TX, then he's gone.  If I had any real problem I would make him listen. So far the only sx I've had is the rash. I'm halfway done, so I'm hoping it won't get much worse. I'd really rather not have to mess with rescue drugs...

My enzymes--
3/30 they were ast-46 and alt-76, 5/19 They were ast-35 and alt-58. Started tx 06/06/06!! Don't know what LFT's mean?

Yes I'm taking enough riba 1000/day for 130#.

Thanx for your response--not many do on the weekend. I haven't been posting lately.

[sfbaygirl]

I have missed you. I had to take a few days when I was fed up with the tx.

LFT= Liver Function Tests ALT, SGOT or SGT are measures of inflamation (inflammation) in your liver.

I am surprised they aren't going down! Mine were about as high as yours before tx. They went down about half. I am NO expert for sure, so don't freak out about it. It could be from that rash you have or some different meds.

Your Hgb is fine. Rising platelets and whites going up is good I suppose. I just find it strange because it seems most people's do go down. You DO NOT need any rescue drugs, that is for sure.

I will be interested to find out why this is happening! At least you are UND and half way through tx. This may be the way your body is telling you that the tx is working.

[way]

I was und at 4 weeks!!

I hope I don't have liver cancer or something. I guess I should press my Doctor for some answers. Maybe I need to get an ultrasound or something. My biopsy showed stage1 grade2, but I know they can't check your WHOLE liver with just that little sample.
Something is causing dead liver cells to be in my blood.

[way]

I think some one posted a while back that getting the Hep A & B vaccinations can raise your enzymes...I did that about 7 weeks ago.

Anyone??

[sfbaygirl]

Good Morning!

I think I heard the same thing about vaccines. I really doubt you have cancer. As I said, when you have a bug, illness your enymes can go up. Call the dr. on Monday and see what he says about the levels. I remember you saying your dr wasn't too helpful. Mine is pretty vague too. Call and get some answers. I KNOW you know how to tell somebody what you want! LOL

You are going to be fine and higher (they are not that high) enymes do not indicate cancer!

[way]

Thanx for your support! I will call the Dr. on Monday.