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Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver - now seems normal

through a CAT scan in early 2004 I was told I had Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver.  I had just had a baby a couple years before that was very traumatic birth - Emergency C -section, Loss of blood - Kidney failure - eventual recovery, blood clots and ruptured ovarian cyst all in 3 months.  I don't drink a lot and have never been one to take any kind of medication or over the counters.   I have monitored my Liver Enzymes in 2008 - ALT 42 in 2009 it was 52 and a year and a half later it is 19 ? Can it drop that much in 18 months.  I did start working out 3 months ago.  Dropped 16 pounds as I was teetering on the obese side - I bike at least 4 hours a week.  My cholesterol is improved to (181 total) by 13 Pts. my triglycerides down 13pts (67).  LDL down (117) 12pts. HDL up 4 to 51pts.  Every other lab looks normal.  I read that my ALT may be low because of lack of actual liver cells that are working??? is that right or would this be a drastic reverse in this condition.  Is there another test besides the CAT to know?
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Avatar universal
Thanks Mike:

It has weighed on my mind for the last couple of years and as excited as I was to see the drop I didn't want to take it for face value without follow up.  My Dr. agrees that there would be other signs in the blood work (she was on vacation when I got my results and posted) I am sorry that you are suffering from liver issues... Having kidney failure after childbirth in 2000 I learned a lot about how important it is to keep the liver, pancreas and kidney's healthy.  Luckily I was 100% back from renal failure 4 weeks after.  

I appreciate your post.

Rae
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Avatar universal
"I read that my ALT may be low because of lack of actual liver cells that are working???"

I seriously doubt that is what's going on. You see that in cirrhotic patients and from what you say you don't appear cirrhotic. Cirrhosis comes on gradually usually progressing from mild fibrosis to moderate to severe fibrosis to early cirrhosis. If you had so few live liver cells left to have a low ALT you would probably other abnormalities in your blood work. And your stomach might be swollen and your ankles too. Your platelets might be low and your spleen enlarged. Either you would know something is wrong or your doctor would upon physical examination and blood studies.

That is a nice drop in your ALT but really, it's not unheard of by any means. In fact your ALT wasn't really that high at 52. I know it is out of normal range but 52 just isn't that high and by the looks of your other blood work you're doing a lot of things right. So your liver has gotten healthier and that is a great thing to see.

If I were you I would talk to my doctor and see if you don't get some reassurance that will ease your mind. Of course, the gold standard for assessing liver condition is a liver biopsy. Though biopsies aren't usually a big deal it is not a procedure that I would recommend without good reason. Though the risk is small there are risks to the procedure and unless there is something that you've not mentioned I cannot imagine a doctor ordering a biopsy or any further imaging studies. It just looks too good. The primary approach to NAFLD is diet and you've done that successfully and now you're seeing the results.

But, always rely on your doctor for all medical advice. I am not a doctor or in the medical field in any capacity - except that of a patient.

Good luck,
Mike
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