Liver Panel numbers

[bdiddyone]

I have had Hep C for over 12 years and my liver panel numbers have been about 50% higher than the high normal-range numbers - but last year they had dropped a bit (still higher than the normal range); but this year all 3 of my numbers are within the normal range - has anyone experienced any thing like this?
I have not done the treatment - tried it for one week and decided it wasn't for me.

***@****

[nygirl7]

I would completely advise that you get the biopsy (it sounds horrendous but it really really isn't) so you can find out where your liver stands in it's damage level.  I had no idea I had the disease and was already at stage 3 when I was diagnosed. Treatment isn't really for anybody - believe me nobody likes it but when you are almost at cirrhosis and looking at the options it becomes much more aggreeable.  If you've ever seen anyone die of end stage liver disease you would understand what I mean - no comparison to a few months suffering on meds.

Once you find out if you are one of the lower stages you could then perhaps monitor a bit with liver enzymes if you keep on top of it regularly.  It is not the most efficient way but it's one of the things you can do.  That being said you dont' know how elevated they were in the past or how much damage you already have.......that is the best place to start.

And remember, generally the first week can be one of the hardest for anyone on treatment.  Once your body gets used to the meds it's not as violent usually.

Good luck.  Please if you don't want to treat and prefer to 'watch and wait' make sure you are really watching not just waiting.  This disease is called the silent killer for a good reason - it does.

[GrandOak]

These numbers always fluctuate and are reflective on where your liver is at when the blood draw is taken.

I'm not sure I agree that there is no apparent reason for them being elevated.  As I understand it, if your liver is under duress because of an attack, the numbers will be elevated.

Keep in mind that our livers can be under duress for a variety of reasons and HCC can be induced from different factors as well.  It is not simply HCV.

The same fluctuation holds true for HCV VL as well.  This is why most doctors prefer to have blood draws taken on same day and time whenever possible.

[Bill1954]

“Liver panel numbers” are notoriously inefficient for monitoring HCV status. Things like AST/ALT, etc, do not correlate with disease progression. These enzymes can have transient elevations; for no apparent reason.

The only measure that can gauge this accurately (outside of cirrhosis) is a liver biopsy result. Have you had this done recently? This result can help discern the progression of fibrosis, and therefore the urgency to undergo treatment. How long ago did you attempt treatment? What genotype are you?

Bill