Are normal alts really normal?

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Subject: Are normal alts really normal?

Forum: The Hepatitis Forum

I was diagnosed with Hep C in Oct of 98. I am a 38 year old female and have had Hep C at least 20 years. I went to the first doctor with a history of blood test which spaned over a seven year period.  I had normal alts in 9/10 tests. MY PCR was 330,000ml/copies. My doctor would not do a bio, did not want to genotype, and did not want me to return untill I could show him six months of abnormal alts.  He reason for this was two fold.  First, he claimed that when they bio people with a history of normal alts..they most likley find none to very mild damage on the bio. Also, he does not think these people need treatment yet.
So, I went to a new doctor who suggested that for me the normal range of alts may not really be normal.  And, that liver damage may be occuing due to the spiking of the alts that..athough I am still in the normal range..my spikes are high.  For example three months ago..my alts were: 16/18..three months latter they were: 32/45..still normal but high normal.  So, because of this he has run a genotype test and he wants to do a bio.  He claims that they find  that the MAJORITY of people who have a history of normal alts discover that they have  moderate to serious liver damage.  This is because for them the normal alts were misleading and may of not been normal for them at all!  Any thoughs on this?
Chris








Follow Ups:


Re: Are normal alts really normal? HFHSM.D.-D.M. 4/16/1999
(2)

Are normal alts really normal? Cristy 4/16/1999
(1)

Re: Are normal alts really normal? HFHSM.D.-D.M. 4/21/1999
(0)