One question I had from one of your above posts, your dr. said that everyone with HCV has fatty liver...I don't think that's true!?!? We all have varying stages of liver inflammation, but fatty liver is another thing entirely, right? Help me out here, people! My mother has fatty liver but not HCV, and I'm the opposite...together we're a dysfunctional liver family!
Thanks for all the info. I'll look into the sgpt website and wait for my biopsy results.
http://home3.inet.tele.dk/omni/alttest.htm#sgpt
YOU SAID:
I couldn't find anything on my lab results that read, "ALT enzymes".
ALT IS ALSO SGPT
SGPT (Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase - ALT)
Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase or ALT is an enzyme found primarily in the liver but also to a lesser degree, the heart and other tissues. It is useful in diagnosing liver function more so than SGOT levels. Decreased SGPT in combination with increased cholesterol levels is seen in cases of a congested liver. We also see increased levels in mononucleosis, alcoholism, liver damage, kidney infection, chemical pollutants or myocardial infarction.
Normal Adult Range: 0 - 48 U/L
Optimal Adult Reading: 24
I guess I was unclear. that is what Drs were telling me for years. It was inactive, I was a carrier, I had nothing to worry about and so on...........I was not educated until now, which is in the late stages, and I am very sick and have many side effects of the HCV, fatigue, pain, inflammation, insomnia, nausea and so on.........And this is Pre tx lol
I wanted her to tell her husband that because my LFTs were always pretty good. I was told I was fine. That is NOT true, and it is a shame that I was so mis lead by Drs........and now yrs later am dealing with it. I also believe a lot of my other illness are due to the HCV. I have been told by a few Drs that the RA and Fybromyalgia can be caused from the HCV. Anyway........I am sorry if I was unclear.
Jenn
Please know that hepc remains active whether you are consuming alcohol or not. Some people never drink and still have extensive liver damage. That is what hepc does - damages the liver over time. Alcohol and drugging along with hepc will definitely accelerate liver damage over a shorter period of time. Just wanted to clarify hepc is never inactive unless you are cured.
Trinity
Im sorry I thought you were saying you have Hep C or possibly did? Those are the only 2 reasons I have ever heard of fatty liver Hep and Cholesterol........has your husband ever had a liver biopsy? I have had all good labs for many many years, still do on the LFTs, some elevated some normal, but the inside ha ha my liver not so Healthy!
I just learned all this too. I was living life walking around thinking I was fine, and was hit in the back of the head with a brick!! Now I know all these years I thought I was fine the Hep C has been damaging my liver everyday of these 20 yrs! Also with Hep C it depends on the genotype, viral load, and I dont know about anyone else here, but I was told I was a carrier for many years. That is was not active. I supposedly made it active due to years of drinking and drug abuse on and off!
Wish you the best of luck with the biopsy
Jenn
My husband was diagnosed with Hep C; however, he was treated and has annual liver blood work that now indicate that his liver is normal again.
I couldn't find anything on my lab results that read, "ALT enzymes".
My white blood cells (WBC) are 5.9, normal range is [4.0 - 8.6].
Red (RBC) 4.65, [ 4.1 - 4.7].
Cholesteros is 171, [<200].
Hepatitis B SURF. AG (RD) indicated "NONE DETECTED".
Hepatitis C AB (RD) indicated "NONE DETECTED".
Thanks for responding! I'll keep you both posted on my biopsy results.
I have a a fatty liver. It is from the Hep C, but also can be fatty if you have high cholesterol. I had my GB removed in 2001 and the Dr said I had a fatty liver asked if I had high cholesterol. I said no I have Hep C, and he said oh that why it was fatty. He told me everyone with HCV has a fatty liver. Now I dont know if it gets worse as the disease progresses? I just had my liver bx last month and was told it was VERY fatty ( whatever that meant? ) and now I am cirrhotic.......So Im guessing the HCV progresses and does more damage over the years and ya go from a lil bit of fatty liver to fibrosis, which is where I am now. Good Luck with your biopsy and let us know what they find.......
Peace
Jenn
I am terrible at reading the numbers...my nurse told me to just watch the main numbers...red and white cells counts...the ALT enyzmes...and of course the viral load....concering fatty liver...i was told back in 2005 i had "mild fatty liver"....i think she said 25% of my liver was fatty...ask your doc about the degree of fatty liver
Thanks for responding.
All I know is that my:
ALK Phosphatase is 249 [normal range is 50 to136]
SGPT is 142 [30 - 65]
SGOT is 80 [1 - 37]
Does that tell you anything?
I am scheduled for a liver biopsy on 01/07/09.
Doyou know what grade of fatty liver you have...its rated as from mild to severe