Help I am so confused and scared! abnormal blood test.........sonogram?

[TXMomOfFaith]

My husband's endocronologist did a blood test on him last week. I am not sure what for, but recent blood test showed low testoterone but that was about it. Anyway, the dr's office just called and said that his liver blood test just came back as abnormal and they want him to come in for an abdominal sonogram this week. What does this mean? What are they looking for? I am really really worried and scared.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

elevated liver tests can be due to many things.  these are not alarmingly elevated but clearly need to be followed up on.  You should see a gastroenterologist if not already doing so.

[Central_Lakes]

Hello,

I am 25 and had life insurance exam and found out I have high enzymes...around 183 ALT and 103 AST.

I just had the sonogram and am waiting to find out the results.  I am scared to death too.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

shouldn't be life-threatening.  the treatment is weight loss and treatment of diabetes if he has it. please check out "NASH"on the web.  this is very common

[TXMomOfFaith]

I just got off of the phone with my husband and he said they called and said he had a fatty liver. He didn't ask for any more info which is pretty typical of him. So, now we know....he has a fatty liver. What does this mean? Life threatening? Is there a cure?

[TXMomOfFaith]

My husband is not on diuretics for sure. I know the U/S techinician can't make diagnosis or anything like that and all the interpreting will be left up to the doctor. We have not heard anything yet. One thing that concerns me is that my husband dips and instead of spitting, he swallows the dip juice. He has been doing this since he was around 17. How dangerous is this to his health?

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

a high carbon dioxide can be due to diuretics.  I am glad the U/S is OK. Wouldn't change anything in his diet right now.

[TXMomOfFaith]

My husband had he abdominal sonogram Friday  morning and the technician said she didn't see anything that was "obvious". I am not sure what that means. What normally causes high carbon dioxide? I recall my grandmother having this come up on one of her blood test too. Is there anything we can do at home to help with the carbon dioxide as well as abnormal liver blood test? Special diet?
I am very happy that you said that liver cancer in a 28 year old is rare, that makes me feel a bit better. :)

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

low testosterone could be related to several chronic liver conditions but generally not fatty liver alone.  it is indeed rare for such a young person to develop liver cancer.  I am unsure why the carbon dioxide is high.

[TXMomOfFaith]

My husband's bloodtest also show low testoterone and high carbon dioxide. Are these related in any way to a fatty liver? Is it rare for a 28 year old man to have liver cancer?

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

fatty liver is extremely common in the US.  Over years it can lead to cirrhosis and then liver cancer.  You must develop cirrhosis before developing liver cancer.  fatty liver (called NASH) may be associated with other types of malignancy.  the treatment is weight loss. people rarely have symptoms except for abnormal liver chemistry tests.

[TXMomOfFaith]

Is a fatty liver life threatening? I think my biggest worry is liver cancer. My husband is overweight and only 28 years old. Are there other symptoms of fatty liver? Is it fairly common?

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

fatty liver is the most common cause of abnormal liver tests.  Do not panic--it may not be anything.  Please keep me in the loop.