Elevated test levels

Got a call from my doc after a routine exam and lab work.  My AST is 305 and my ALT is 588!  At age 18 I had Hep B with no known side effects other than not being able to be a donor.  I'm now 53, don't drink, smoke or take Tylenol and am being told to see a specialist ASAP. What could be causing such elevated levels?  The doctor says this level is what they see related to liver failure! Any other possibilities?  I'll be seeing the doctor later this week.

[Plutonium-kid]

I never stated that HBV can evolve to HCV since they're separate diseases affecting the liver & can co-exist together....a SUPER INFECTION.
Pls do not jump to conclusions quickly..... take it STEP BY STEP since all scenarios are possible. In addition, I do think that RA & immumity are inter-related somehow & many patients with Hep do have arthritic like symptoms.
I hope that I'm CLEARER this time.......

Thanx & keep in touch
the kid....

[Benniewhat]

thanks for clarifying.  I will be patient and wait for the follow-up test results.  No need for me to jump through hoops at this point, but I promise to keep pursuing this to get an answer and hopefully, an accurate diagnosis.  I'll keep you posted! :-)

[Plutonium-kid]

Hello,
Having had AST & ALT values of above 900 IU/ml, I was scheduled for additional testing. I was referred to a Hepatologist & he tested for HCV. I turned up HCV (+).
Pls understand, I'm not comparing myself to you, since our bodies do react differently. However, CAUTION should be practiced by you. Additionally, you must suspect any diseases of the liver, since ALT & AST are LIVER TRANSAMINASE ENZYMES, which indicate the health of our liver.

Good luck Friend......

[Plutonium-kid]

Pls stay on this FORUM & update us with your progress.

[heene]

Please keep track of those levels.  My husbands ALT & AST had been elevevated to 1500 & 1800.  All tests for hepatitis came back negative. His bilirubin was up to 19.  No local dr. could find out what was wrong.  Finally took him to a hepatologist at the Med. University and found out he has autoimmune hepatitis.  It has caused liver failure along with renal failure.  His kidneys have come back good (so far) and his ALT & AST are almost normal now.  But Bilirubin in still elevated.  They do not feel the liver will regenerate.  So please........get to a specialist and keep following-up!!!

[Benniewhat]

Thank you for your quick response! My primary care physician is insisting that I come by so he can do a test of his own as he feels they could be wrong.  I read some interesting info on an RA board.  I've had many past problems with bursitis of the hip, neck pain, sacryilyitis (sp) - but no one could ever pin down really why I have so much inflammation and pain.  After a year of anti-inflammatants, muscle relaxers, etc. I turned fianlly to an alternative method of control.  There seems to be a relation between RA and high enzyme levels in the liver.  hummmm... guess I'll find out soon enough.  So, you're saying Hep B can evolve into HCV?  thank you so much...

[doll face]

Sorry for cutting in on this thread. Just got tests results back, what do you all think ? Thanks

AST 17
ALT 10

WBC  1.1
RBC  2.96
HEMO 9.8
HEMA 30.8
MCV  104.1
MCH  33.1
PLATE 103
NEUT  41.9
MONO  14.2

[layla]

I'm glad to hear Amanda is able to keep active and isn't feeling to bad. Thanks for the update. I hope this break in treatment is enjoyed by your family and you find something that works for her soon. I can't imagine how hard this is for all of you. It's good to hear from you. LL

[TnHepGuy_]

Your ALT's and AST's look great! And your platelets appear to be holding up well.

On the flip side, your WBC is rather low - and your Hg is sub 10.0. Are you on Neupogen and/or Procrit at the moment?


I just received my week #17 blood work back today. My WBC was 1.8 and my ANC was 700. So they decided to have me do a shot of Neupogen tonight. I did one back on week # 5 and things have held relatively steady since then. My Hg is still ever-so-slowly trailing downward. This time it was 11.7. Four weeks ago it was 12.1.


That really is good news about your LFT's!



TnHepGuy

[layla]

Sorry to hear you had to have nuepo. I hope it's only one shot like before. LL

[doll face]

I am still on Procrit once a week.Even though my ALT & AST 's look great (Which I am extremely grateful) my WBC, RBC & Hemo continue to decline every month. The  doctor said that since my Neutrophil counts are so good that there is no need to cut my dosage at this time. I am ever so tired lately and my bones are starting to really ache again. But I don't want him to lower dosage I only have 22 weeks left of 72 and am afraid that he will cut the dosage or take me off if I complain too much.But then sometimes I feel like I am a guinea pig, just seeing how far they can push my low counts.

[honey1616]

Dollface,,,Your enzymes are wonderful! WBC is low,,,My hemo got down to 9 at one time but came back up so yours isn't too bad. Platelets looked kinda low though,,,,have they been running low whole time?

TnHepGuy,,, I'm doing pretty good this week,,Can't complain! I will be receiving my bloodwork tomorrow so kinda anxious to see my numbers. Glad to hear all went well and you are feeling better! Let us know results when you get....

Chevy,,,I saw you were fatigued today,,,Could it be you are just now reacting to your shot thursday?  That happens to me sometimes and I get so tired after a full day at say...8:00 at night LOL I keep telling my kids,,,your best friend is some nice cool sheets and a bed!  Sad,,,but true..

[cuteus]

how many times have I wanted to take that inf shot ahead of time?....can't count them...i wish i would have had the guts to do so.  I don't want Monday as my shot day...though.

OH! I have been reading my old lab works (for lack of a good book) and in reading the genotype results it stated:
"1a variant, the sequence of this sample is consistent with that of genotype 1a with minor variations not associated with any subtypes." did anybody's read similar to this? I wonder if the minor variations influenced the lack of evr and slower response or is this a generic entry on all results?
Tnguy's links got me reading the quasispecies stuff.

[new-sojourn]

I was told once in the 70's I had hep A, then in the 80's, I was told not hep A b/hep B.  Thenwhen I ended up in icu, coma, bleed, etc, I was told it was 'hard living'.  B/it was hep c all along.  I never had hep a or hep b.  I did cl 2 yrs ago after 24wks of peg-intron & riba.  So don't be surprised @ what you discover.

[Sam Hall]

I thought long and hard abot changing my shot day,the nurses were all for it. However i believed that any break might ghange the environment enough to allow for quasi's. This my be bull but i stuck with full dose of both drugs and got plenty of sx(8.7 heamo). Obviously i still await my 6&12 mnth pcrs. Interestingly the  team told me i was the first in thier area not to reduce any dose and fully comply so are keen to see results.

[Tallblonde]

My genotype lab report says the EXACT same thing as yours (it was done by LabCorp).  I don't know if that should put your mind at ease....or raise concern in my mind.  I hadn't given it any thought until now!  I just assumed I was a 1a.  What the heck does "minor variations" mean?

Susan

[Amerabrit]

I know it's hard but do try not to worry too much at this stage.  You have the virus and you really won't know the ultimate outcome of tx until 1 year post (realistically).  My ASTs and ALTs were high too, 569/1148, at 12 wks they were 16/12 and HCV undetectable.  The results made me feel cautiously optimistic.  I am a 1B.
Very best of luck to you.

[Tallblonde]

Thanks for your note.  Now that the 1,580 IU/ml was reconfirmed as correct, I think I'll wait another 90 days before doing the next PCR.  I'd be more encouraged about all this if it wasn't for the fact that I'm experiencing the same level, or even slightly more, of HCV-related symptoms (itching, numbness in my hands, brain fog, etc.).  None of them are more than just nuisance symptoms, at this point, but I'd sure like them to diminish along with my VL.  I'll keep you posted.

Susan

[cuteus]

scott: yeah thanks, more to worry about...Ok ...I'm game for the reading, if you find it...hah.
anyone remember where the GWB joke was? I have to print it. can't find the thread.

Tallblonde...yes, labcorp did mine also.  it may be a generic entry, I hope.  
let us know the results of your next pcr, I guess that one will definetly tell if your body is winning the fight.   Wouldn't it be precious if that was the gift your baby gave his mom in his/her short life? truly priceless.

[honey1616]

Sorry to hear your diganosis.  You are at the right place for help as alot of people here are on treatment.  Some have it worse then others but for most parts,,,its workable.  You take riba(pills) daily and then shot once a week that yes,,,you administer.  You will learn and take first shot at your drs office.  One step at a time though,,,get your biopsy and everything else out of way and then you will be ready to ask us all more questions. I know how scared you are because we all have gone through that!  Let us know your sonogram and bx results!  Good Luck!

[Benniewhat]

Thanks to all of you.  Went back to the doc this morning for the second round of testing and it's true - I have been diagnosed with Hep C.  The doc said the needle stick that caused me to get "Hep B" back in the late 60's was really Hep C.  They just didn't know enuff about it back then.  He has scheudled me to see a specialist.  Says I'll need a sonogram and liver biopsy to detail damage so far and determine treatment, which will involve weekly shots and pills.  Please tell me about this treatment!  What should I expect?  Side effects, etc?  Do you self-administer?  info info info!  I'm so scared.

[RAINFALL55]

HELLO EVERYONE. I HAVE BEEN TO A FORUM ONCE BEFORE AND DON'T REMEMBER HOW TO GET TO IT.
CUTEUS, I REMEMBER YOU AND VICKIE. VICKIE WAS GIVING UP.
ANYWAY, I DID THE BIOPSY AND I HAVE STAGE 4. I AM NOT SURE WHAT ANY OF THIS MEANS YET. I AM TYPE 1A. THAT IS ALL I KNOW. I DID HEAR THAT TYPE 1A IS HARD TO TREAT AND STAGE 4 IS BAD. I HAD NO IDEA I EVEN HAD HEP C. I FELT FINE. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN LOSING WEIGHT WITHOUT TRYING. I AM SUPPOSED TO START ON PEGAINTERFERON AND RIBAVIRIN. NOT SURE WHEN. I AM WAITING FOR A CALL FROM THE HEPATOLOGIST'S OFFICE. HE READ IN MY MEDICAL FILE THAT I HAVE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND I DO NOT. I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. I CALLED MY CARDIOLOGIST AND HE SAID HE DID NOT PUT THAT IN MY FILE THAT THE FILE THE HEPATOLOGIST HAS IS FROM MY FAMILY PRACTICIONER. SO THEY HAVE TO GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT BEFORE I CAN START ON TREATMENT. HOW BAD IS STAGE 4? DO I NEED TO WORRY? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? DOES IT MEAN I HAVE CIRRHOSIS? I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. I AM SO SCARED. I HAVE NO ONE TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH ME. I AM A 55 YEAR OLD FEMALE. I MUST HAVE HAD THIS FOR MANY YEARS. I HAVE TO HELP MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS HAD TWO MINI STROKES IN THE LAST MONTH. I WISH I WASN'T SICK TOO. I HOPE TO MAKE FRIENDS HERE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. I WILL TRY TO FIND MY WAY BACK HERE. CUTEUS, YOU CAN E-MAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO AND TELL ME WHERE I WAS BEFORE AND HOW VICKIE IS.
YOUR NEW FRIEND,
RAIN

[Benniewhat]

Thanks for the support.  I'm not familiar with all the acronyms used here, but it's pretty obvious that bx = biopsy?  Maybe you can fill me in on the lingo.  I'm concerned after comparing my blood work. AST level increased by 63 and ALT increased by 130 within 6 days.  I called my doc since I'm not even scheduled to see the specialist until June 24th! He's gonna try to get things moving ahead sooner if he can.  I'm gonna check out the thread you referred me to about treatment.  He put me on Vioxx as I have horrible pain in my back between my shoulder blades and other areas.  Been having joint stiffness in my elbows for a few months as well.  Is this common with hep C? I'll check the links.  I can't thank you enuff for all your support here.

[cuteus]

What a nightmare, what these drs make you go through sometimes, and the little mental energy we have has to be spent keeping up with their messes. I hope you find your way back here...your guardian angel will see to that. leave your e mail if you want us to contact you. stay focus as much as you can.

[W SPOUSE]

MY HUSBAND HAS HEP. C- TYPE 1aPLATELET COUNT 46/NO TREATMENT
MILKTHISLE 3X A DAY, VITAMIN EHE ALSO HAS HAD VARISES & THEY