LIVER DISEASE? If so, what?

[Lilybee]

Can you please tell me if the following lab values & symptoms indicate some type of liver failure. I am concerned that that is what is happening to me.  I have had abdominal pain that radiates to the right upper quadrant and I had some type of severe "attack" of muscular wasting.  I haven't been to the neurologist yet but from the amount of pain I'm in, it looks and feels like nerve damage.  My medical profile is complicated and I want to go to a hepatologist but I don't have any idea what to tell them to look for.  I also have some indications of some type of hertiable connective tissue disorder.

My white blood cells are chronically low.
My red blood cells have been low as well.
I have mildly impaired glucose tolerance (I do not eat junk food nor am I overweight).

Urea Nitrogen BUN is low at 3
Globulin is low at 1.8
A/G ratio has been high at 2.4
Mildly elevated coproporphyrins

I also have nocturia and have had some changes in consciousness such as sleepiness and confusion when I wake up.  I have had some memory problems as well.  I know that my symptoms are not good because I am not recovering the 10 lbs I lost in spite of trying to eat well and my muscles have really atrophied although I try to move around as much as possible.  I do not drink any alcohol at all nor do I take any medications other than thyroid supplements which keep my hypothyroid (autoimmune thyroiditis) under control very well.  My medical case somehow slipped through the cracks.  I haven't had any labs with elevated bilirubin nor is my skin yellow.  Please give me some idea what I would tell a liver specialist to look for.  I am concerned about liver encephalopathy as what I've read on the internet sounds somewhat like my case although I have no idea why this would have happened to me.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

If there is concern about the liver, blood tests should be done to look at the liver function as well as viral hepatitis.

Imaging the liver can also be done to look for possible signs of cirrhosis.  An ultrasound or CT scan can be done.

If there is suspicion of liver disease, a biopsy should be discussed.

Regarding the abnormal albumin/globulin ratio, you can consider a serum or urine electrophoresis that can rule out diseases like myeloma.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician or hepatologist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[Lilybee]

I forgot to add some important details about my case.  I  had an abdominal CT scan and it showed a benign hepatic hemangioma and a liver cyst.  No further imaging or diagostics were done to examine these anomalies as they are apparently common, or so I am told.  I also have had fluid gurgling through my abdomen.  I am wondering if it is ascites, I don't know.  I didn't have the fluid before this attack.

[chrissy21776]

I responded to you I believe already on another forum. i have a disease called Porphyria -HCP to be exact and you have many symptoms including the elevated coproporphyrins. Go onto the national porphyria foundation's website.
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