Enzyme levels

[bucholz]

About a year ago my liver enzymes were accidentally discovered at being elevated.  AST = 85 and ALT = 280.  I drank (alcohol)about every weekend and really did not take much care of myself.  Now I drink every so often and my enzyme levels especially AST have gone down.  My ALT enzyme is staying around the 72 mark with the lab norm of 7-56 U/L.  With my AST levels in the normal range, what could cause the ALT to still be slightly elevated.  My mom had a transplant a year and a half ago with the cause being listed as cryptogenic chirrosis.  She did abuse pain killers after a bad auto accident.  I think that is what caused it.  If I have a few drinks once a month is that going to potentially hurt me in the long run.  I was diagnosed by two different gastro's with one saying I have NASH with out even taking a biopsy.  The other says fatty liver.  Note: I have not had a biopsy.  Can fatty liver lead to chirrosis?  Is an occasional night out going to progress this?  Any help would be very appreciated.

[Dr. Erik]

An ALT of 72 is very mildly elevated. It may be of no clinical signifiance. With a level that low, I don't think a person could live long enough (100+ years) for that level to do significant damage to the liver. I wouldn't lose much sleep over this level, but be sure to follow through with your doctor.

[imkindly]

Fatty liver is called steatosis, and fatty liver with liver inflammation is called or steatohepatitis.
Steatosis and steatohepatitis ["Fatty Liver"] can be caused by alcohol and other drugs and can also sometimes occur in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Steatohepatitis [Fatty Liver] that is NOT caused by alcohol is sometimes referred to as Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis or "NASH."

There's some info on this at
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/fatty.html

You should read that article. I think it will answer all of your questions.
Hope this helps.