Fatty liver

I have been previously diagnosed with a fatty liver and have had elevated ALT/SGPT levels since 2002, on my last Dr's visit they drew blood and it was 58, it has dropped but I am concerned with it. I do drink 2-4 beers a night, have high cholesterol and take cholesterol medicine and have htn along with medicine that I take for that. What do you think is the real reason for the elevated liver enzymes?

[mikesimon]

I am assuming that the "cholesterol medicine" you are referring to is a statin. In a small percentage of people statins can cause elevated liver enzymes which can, over time, result in liver damage.

"Statins include well-known medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and others."


".There are two potentially serious side effects of statins of which you need to be aware:

    * Liver damage. Occasionally, statin use causes an increase in liver enzymes. If the increase is only mild, you can continue to take the drug. If the increase is severe, you may need to stop taking it, which usually reverses the problem. If left unchecked, increased liver enzymes can lead to permanent liver damage. Certain other cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as gemfibrozil (Lopid) and niacin, increase the risk of liver problems even more in people who take statins. Because liver problems may develop without symptoms, people who take statins have their liver function tested periodically....."

See:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statins/CL00010


Drinking beer every day is probably not a good choice. Generally when someone says they drink 2 to 4 they are drinking 4 a night more frequently than they are drinking 2 a night. I would stop drinking altogether until you get this issue resolved.

Good luck,
Mike