Very high ALT level 174/184 Liver

[saggybaps]

Could anyone offer any advise?
I had a load of general blood tests done a couple of weeks ago, I was told one wasn’t quite right and they’d like to do it again. They took my blood at 10am this morning (Christmas Eve) at 5.30pm I had a call from the surgery regarding my liver test results and asking if I was feeling ok...

It turns out my ALT result was 174 or 184. Which is seemingly pretty high. I was sat with the kids watching Paddington and feel like I’ve had a bomb dropped on me. I am literally freaking out. I feel sick and faint and have had to take a couple of diazepam to calm down.

I’ve more blood tests booked for the 29th and the doctor has requested a liver ultrasound at the hospital.

Can anyone please offer any advise on what this could be? Have you had a similar result?

I am absolutely shitting myself and 100% this has ruined Christmas.

Just to add. I don’t really drink, but did have 2/3 of a bottle of wine 2 weeks ago and felt terrible for 3 days.

Hi all,

I thought I would post my current experience as I’m still going through investigation. (Context: I’m in the UK, I’m 27 and have normal BMI).

I had a blood test in early 2021 (for a different reason - a fatty lump on my belly - which turned out to be just a harmless small lump!) but this blood test showed a raised ALT level. The doctor then repeated the tests a month and two months later and the ALT level continued to rise. The three tests showed ALT levels of 34, 45, then 134!

The doctor then ordered one ultrasound mid 2021 and another ultrasound late 2021. Both looked totally fine.

So now I’m having another blood test tomorrow and now a Fibroscan which is apparently a liver-specific ultrasound-type scan.

I have no symptoms, no abdominal pain, I hardly drink alcohol (maybe a couple of gin and tonics per month!), I eat healthily and exercise twice a week so I’m stumped as to why my ALT levels aren’t behaving!

@petalflowers95, firstly it's reassuring that your previous scans were clear. Very unlikely that nothing was picked up on those scans.

Liver function tests can be elevated for a number of benign reasons such as viruses. The fibroscan will assess if you have any stiffness to the liver and this will be precautionary. "Normal" is usually up to 7 and you are likely to get the results straight away.

There are a few autoimmune conditions which can affect the liver so the blood tests are likely to be more specific blood tests such as ggt and maybe ama.

The liver Trust has lots if information on liver conditions so worth a look but I think you'll need the blood results to get a clearer picture.

Thanks so much for your insight! The doctor mentioned that a biopsy may be needed if the test results are still high so I’m hoping that the level comes back down as I’m nervous about a biopsy.

Fingers crossed for a good blood test result tomorrow! Thanks again!

Any update from bloods?

Hello! Thanks for checking in. I had my blood test on Wednesday last week but still haven’t heard back about the results. I’m also waiting for the Fibroscan appointment to come through.

I’m not sure whether to call the hospital to see if they’ll tell me my blood test results or whether I should wait for a call/letter/email/something!

I finally heard from the doctor! I didn’t get any specific numbers unfortunately but he said my liver result has ‘improved’ from last time (which was 134 ALT) but is ‘still high’. He’s said he wants another blood test done in two weeks. Meanwhile, I’m still waiting for my Fibroscan appointment to be organised!

@saggybaps @petalflowers95

How are you both? Im currently in the midst of unexplained high enzymes and im so worried. I have gallstones but they dont cause me pain so im not sure they are related?

Hunny updates on this my husband has high alt and I’m panicking

Hey there, I still have my gallstone, it doesn’t cause me much bother so still ticking along. I haven’t had any more blood test, so no idea what my levels are like these days. Still permanently knackered though!
@Maisylouise22 could your husband have a gallstone or fatty liver? I apparently have both! It will just be an ultrasound to find out. Don’t panic.

Hey well he’s very fit physically goes to the gym lifts heavy weights he does like a mcds but hi blood showed 99 atl and his creatine was high aswell I’m wondering if maybe because he is a bigger muscly guy that his levels would be different from us ? I’m going to push the doctor to do a scan on his liver just incase I think all they’ve said is repeat bloods in March he is also full of a cold when he had the bloods done the other day ? Thankyou for getting back to me.!

The cold could well be it! I had to repeat the blood tests several times before the ultrasound. Fingers crossed they’re back to normal next time.