LFT Numbers

Dear Forum,

I recently had a routine physical done, and my labwork returned an abnormal liver function test. My results were AST: 88 (norm of 0-40) and ALT: 58 (0-55). He indicated that because of the numbers were "abnormal" protocal was to follow up for Hep B and C among other tests.

My hep B and C tests were returned negative, to which he indicated would rule out hepatitis. As you can imagine, I have spent a considerable amount of time on this forum, and as such, wondered if an acute or newly infected person would have numbers reflective of mine AST 88 and ALT 58 in the instance of a new infection or if they would be much higher?

I have read that typically ALT is higher than the AST and the numbers in an acute case are generally 10 times the high end of what is considered normal? What is the testing window for tests to be considered conclusive?

Are my numbers considered abnormal, mildly elevated, high or dangerously elevated?

[Anne1717]

Hi - Your LFT'S  are a little high but that can be for other reasons not related to HCV.  Many different medications, a thyroid issue, excessive alcohol use,Osteoporosis, etc.,  can cause elevations.  If HCV was ruled out, then I hope your Doctor pursues alternate tests.  I may stand corrected, but the window for HCV conclusive testing is about 12 weeks AFTER exposure.
BTW- I was acute and my levels were ALT - 367, and AST 163 which was 10 times the norm, and others have posted with much higher, just to give you an idea of what high is.
Good luck and I hope you find your answers.

[willbb]

Hi there...Your doc seems to be on top of things by  doing HCV and B tests with elevated enzymes. Anne is correct when she mentions  antibodies  usually show anytime after about 12 weeks post possible exposure.

   Elevated liver enzymes may be caused by many factors...  drug use ..recreational as well as many OTC meds.,alcohol consumption (Nash..Non alcoholic steatohepatitis )  and NAFLD( Non -alcoholic liver disease)  just to name a few.

  Sometimes Ast will be higher in case of a heart problem or even muscle injury.

  Always a good idea to make sure the doc monitors them  and may not be a bad idea to have another HCV antibodies test in a few weeks to make sure  or you can have a HCV/RNA by PCR blood test that will tell  definitively if you have active HCV within 2 - 3 weeks post exposure..

Good luck.....

Will

[cjenk919]

Hi Willbb and Anne,

Thank you for your responses. My HCV antibody test was done 12 weeks and 3 days after  my only potential exposure. I had mentally put this behind me until my physical raised the flag via the elevated AST's (88) - do you think I should retest Will in a few weeks based on the date of my last test?

Is the ALT score being just marginally outside of "normal" (by 3 points) overly concerning?

In terms of a PCR, can I request that or does my doc have to order it? Is there a way to request the test directly? (my doctor is a bit of a pain to get a hold of).

Sorry for all the questions, and thank you for the help...

[willbb]

The HCV antibodies test are   very accurate and  12 weeks would certainly be lots of time to show up.

  A doctor must order  a PCR  and they are very often reluctant to do so when you have had a negative antibodies test.

  If you feel you need peace of mind possibly get another antibodies done ,however like I mmentioned they are quite accurate.

As far as  the enzymes......... they may be elevated ,as I said for a variety of reasons, ..if it were me I would have them monitored and if they do not come down I would have the doc run further tests... to get to the bottom of it.  NASH and NAFLD will most often show up on ultrasound.

Good luck

Will

[cjenk919]

Thank you both for being so open and informative. This is a very powerful forum with some great people out there offering help.

I will take your advice and make sure my doctor stays on top of my liver function tests....

Thanks guys (and girls)

[buggs1]

alts and asts are not liver function tests  they are tissue damage indicators  yours are slightly elevated  so were mine (with cirrhosis)

[cjenk919]

Buggs,

Thanks for your post. So if I read what you wrote this could be very serious? I didn't realize slight elevations pointed to cirhossis... Did you have any other symptoms... Thank you for the response, I had been operating as if this wasn't very serious and it sounds like you has found it to be quite the contrary. If anyone else has an opinion here please weigh in...thank you Biggs.

[buggs1]

no they dont indicate cirrhosis on their own merit  thats not what i meant  slightly elevated alts and asts could mean anything  their values mean nothing without follow up diagnostics
like viral load testing and biopsy reports  yes i had many symptoms like fatigue sleep disorder myalgia diabetes gall bladder problems kidney problems pancreatitis etc  it took pcp drs years to put it all together