Elevated ALT...what does this mean?

[happymom2v]

Today I received my blood tests results, and I am worried. My ALT is elevated. Prior to this it has always been in the normal range...I have recent blood work results from August, May, and January of 2013 to compare it to. What could this mean? It was my Endocrinologist who ran the blood work. I see him every 3 months because I am insulin resistant (not diabetic). He didn't even mention the elevated ALT...but I saw it once I received the faxed results.

I also noticed that although my AST and ALK Phosphate are within the normal range, they are definitely a bit higher now than in August & January. Could this mean something? I do have my blood tests for the last few years all the way back to 2007 and my ALT has always been in the range of 12-20 and my AST in the range of 13-15 and my ALK Phosphate in the range of 52-68.

Here are the most recent results...

November 2013
ALT 47 "high" (normal range 6-40)
AST 24 (normal range 10-30)
ALK Phosphate 86 (normal range 33-115)

August 2013
ALT 19 (normal range 6-40)
AST 13 (normal range 10-30)
ALK Phosphate 66 (normal range 33-115)

January 2013
ALT 17 (normal range 6-40)
AST 14 (normal range 10-30)
ALK Phosphate 63 (normal range 33-115)

I do not drink, I do not smoke, I only take Tylenol or Advil if I have a bad headache.

Please let me know what you think? Should I be concerned?
Thank you.

[pocketpoms]

When your ALT and or AST are at a mild high remember many RX meds can also cause them to raise higher counts. My son was on Crestor for cholesterol and his ended up going over 100 on his counts. The doctor took him off Crestor and he ate a better diet of foods. His returned to normal, then the doctor put him back on cholesterol med and now his is ALT=48 and AST=52 so they cut his meds in half and they are slowly dropping back to normal. He was tested for Hep A, B and C and he did not have any of those.  Anyway just a thought.. I take Crestor and my AST was a little over 50 and ALT was almost 50 and doctor also told me to cut back on my RX meds and Aspirin and Tylenol type drugs. I will get rechecked in 6 months. Again just a question to ask your doctor.    Good Luck...GP

[Tommyhawk1121]

My ALT was 211... No hepatitis of any kind. I'm 52 years old and drank heavily since my teens... Go figure...I knew the risks. No need for me to cry about it now.

[happymom2v]

@nitramobeirne...nope, haven't got ant further. I have an appt with the hepatologist at the end of the month and coincidentally, I also have a physical set up with my primary care a few days prior. I am sooo scared to have the bloodwork done but I know that I need answers. The stress is driving me insane...I can't focus on anything, I am a bundle of nerves.

[Caseyocasey]

Did you ever figure out what was wrong? I'm 22 and having the same issues

[nitramobeirne]

Hi - Have you got any further? I'm no expert - I have raised ALT too - but I don't imagine those figures should give you too much cause for concern, as they are just a smidge outside the normal range - I would be healthy ++, not worry too much and get a retest in a couple of months - if it still going up - then I'd take it more seriously - with any luck its just a fluctuation that doesnt mean anything!

Good luck - Im in a similar boat, but my ALT is c.130 so maybe we should keep an eye on each other - see how we go! All the best

[happymom2v]

Opps...I also wanted to include...Does hepatitis cause elevated B12 levels? I noticed that my b12 levels have increased over the years. Here are my results:

November 2013
Vitamin b12 - 1241 high (normal 211-911)

January 2013
Vitaminb12 - 1009 high (normal 211-911)

September 2012
Vitamin b12 - 689 (normal 211-911)

August 2012
Vitamin b12 - 900 (normal 211-946)

June 2012
Vitamin b12 - 844 (normal 211-946)

September 2010
Vitamin b12 - 746 (normal 207-964)

[happymom2v]

I was tested for Hepatitis B a few years ago and my Hepatitis BsAg was negative. I will ask my doctor to test me for Hepatitis C.

I am confused about your last comment..." I am wondering, have you been tested for Hepatitis? Specifically B and C? I am not saying that anything looks like you have it but since you are concerned and you have the IR and elevated liver enzymes it does make me wonder. "

Is there a correlation between insulin resistance and hepatitis as well? Does hepatitis cause insulin resistance???

Thanks Dee...I am very glad you take the time to help and answer my questions...I really appreciate it :-)

[Dee1956]

You posed a good question about the correlation between insulin resistance and liver enzymes.  I will try to find some information.

Because you are in the normal range and all of your other numbers look good I am assuming that you doctor is not concerned.  I had this problem once where one of my numbers was elevated, I was very concerned but the doctor said he looked at my over all numbers.

I am wondering, have you been tested for Hepatitis? Specifically B and C?
I am not saying that anything looks like you have it but since you are concerned and you have the IR and elevated liver enzymes it does make me wonder.

[happymom2v]

Thank you Dee...I am very worried of what could be going on. I have all my blood tests results from 2007 and my ALT, AST & ALK Phosphate are all with well normal limits...actually on the lower end of normal, which I am told is great! However, the test results from November show that both AST & ALK phosphate, although "normal" are raised and Alt is elevated (abnormal), compared to just 3 months prior. This definitely worries me.

I don't have the best eating habits...I tend to eat more "junk food" instead of healthy foods. Since August, I have put on 6 lbs and I constantly feel hungry. I am insulin resistant, the reason I see an Endocrinologist. I wonder if there is any correlation between insulin resistance and liver enzymes?

[Dee1956]

and this

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Liver-Disorders/Elevated-ALT/show/1047966

I hope this helps
Take care
Dee

[Dee1956]

I just found this

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Liver-Disorders/Fast-Food-Can-Cause-Elevated-Liver-Enzymes/show/681632

[Dee1956]

Hi there! You have given excellent results for people to take a look at. Really a good job in showing the history.

It could be a fluke or it could represent that your liver is irritated.

I have a liver disorder and while my doctor does not want me to take tylenol or advil at all, if I must then he says tylenol should never reach over 2,000 mg a day.

Looking at that number you would need to figure out how much you are taking.  If it is occasional it is not a problem, if more it could be.

Are you eating fast foods? lunch meats? processed foods like frozen dinners?

Or are you eating fruits, vegetables lean meat like chicken, fish?

Everything that we eat drink or put on our body or in our eyes has to be processed by the liver.
When it is over loaded it gets irritated and the liver enzymes will show that.  To find out what the ALT is showing, I will go take a look and come back
Dee