ALT, AST, HH & AAT

Dr. Schiano,

Hi there! it's me again. I received my ALT, AST,  AAT, & HH test results:

ALT- went down from 118-81   range: 0-55
AST- went down from 56-40    range: 0-34
Alpha-1-Antitrypsin,Ser 140 mg/dl 90-200   Range: 90-200

As for the AAT test, I'm thankful I don't have that. However, I'm aware of what it is because unfortunately, my older brother was tested positive yrs. ago. At the time, he was told to inform his siblings to be tested, being that it's hereditary. I was previously checked when he informed me.

I'm a little happy to see that my ALT & AST  are going down now. I would still like to figure out the underlining cause as what elevated them in the first place. Unless, it was the Lipitor and now that I've discontinued taking them, they'll go back to normal.

As for the HH results, I'm not understanding them. I'm  assuming it was negative of having it, because I see the word negative. Could you please confirm if I'm correct, in my assuming?

I just have one more question, when in my chart (lucky me, my PCP gives access to chart with Portal) & while sitting here reviewing all the notes, let me clairfy what I'm asking about is from recent yrs. not recently. I just want to understand what this all means & does it have to do with me having my hepatitis shots to enter college yrs. ago?

POSITIVE Hep A Antibody IgM suggests an acute or recent Hepatitis A Viral infection. . NEGATIVE Hep A Antibody IgM
and POSITIVE Hep A Antibody (IgG + IgM) indicates the presence of Hep A Antibody (IgG). This confirms previous
exposure and immunity to the Hepatitis A Virus. .
150 Positive Hep B Core Antibody IgM suggests an acute or recent Hepatitis B viral infection. .

Thank you so so much for your assistance in helping me understand, as well as other people. I must say some of us, I'm sure would go absolutely crazy not understanding this medical terminology or how our liver works. You've been my most support in understanding.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

your hepatitis serologies indicate prior exposure to HAV--everything else is OK.  I am glad that the liver tests are decreasing--the elevations very well could have been due to lipitor. HH (-) means that you do not have the HFE gene.

[Tam047]

OMGosh! I should've finished my research about the Hepatitis comment above, before posting my question. After submitting my question & comment regarding the Hepatitis. I went back into my chart on portal and reviewed again. I hope these results are not the result of my liver problems now? I was not only never informed of the testing, let alone the results below. Shouldn't I've been treated back then? or am I misunderstanding something? Note as stated in previous posting. I was immunized against the virus before attending college yrs. before. Please help me understand these results?

Hep B Surface Antigen NEGATIVE Negative

Hep C Antibody NEGATIVE Negative


06/30/2005 Hep A Antibody Igm NEGATIVE -Note: POSITIVE Hep A Antibody IgM suggests an acute or recent Hepatitis A Viral infection. . NEGATIVE Hep A Antibody IgM
and POSITIVE Hep A Antibody (IgG + IgM) indicates the presence of Hep A Antibody (IgG). This confirms previous
exposure and immunity to the Hepatitis A Virus. .

Hep B Core Antibody Igm NEGATIVE-Positive Hep B Core Antibody IgM suggests an acute or recent Hepatitis B viral infection. .

So, I found a chart on the internet,  but I don't understand it for the life of me.  http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_hepb.asp