Liver Results-any Docs help?

[Mumbun73]

bloods. All came back as expected except liver enzymes, particularly ALT at 100.

This happened once previously few years ago, had an ultrasound which showed mild fatty liver, this led to a fibroscan which was normal with minimal cap score.

I had a CT with contrast last year for another issue, this said liver appeared normal, no mention of fat or anything else.

Bloods have been fine since, until this lot. GP wants me to make a routine appointment, first one available is New Year’s Eve. I rang the British Liver Trust helpline and the nurse has frightened the life out of me-talking about cirrhosis because I’ve got a high BMI. (Blood count etc all normal including platelets.)

I’m panicking badly and have gone off the deep end a bit. Christmas will be written off, I’ll just be worrying about this.

I take omeperazole daily.

Any words of wisdom gratefully received.

The liver is a tough old organ and lots of things can cause intermittent elevations of blood results. I know it is easy to say and hard to do - but don't panic! I had AST in the 90s and ALT around 100 for some years and my GP was not concerned. This was a mistake on her part (and I did nag like heck about it) because I was eventually found to have chronic hepatitis C. But even then my fibroscan was only one notch above normal and the liver bloods have gone back to normal after treatment. It is of course wise to investigate further, especially given the history. You would also be wise to be as kind to your liver as you can pending the further investigations. Cut down alcohol and very sugary foods and be careful with any prescription (or over the counter) medications as they can be tough on the liver. But based on what you have said I would be surprised if they were to find anything drastic. Please don't let it spoil your Christmas.

Oh, I'm not a doctor by the way. Just someone with personal experience of liver issues who has done quite a lot of research on the subject.

If it’s any reassurance my ALT is higher than yours ( 169) and I’ve just been referred but I spoke to a different GP and she referred to it as ‘ mildly elevated’ . I was diagnosed with NAFLD in September . Since then I’ve lost 23 lb and my bmi is now at 26 . I take lots of drugs for other conditions which I can’t stop but I’m just going to start taking Milk Thistle to see if that helps at all .

There’s really not any evidence for milk thistle & always remember that verbal doesn’t = safe and if something is strong enough to do good, it’s also strong enough to do harm and interact with any medication you’re already on.

I’ve checked interactions , I’m really not into herbal things as a rule but this has been recommended on a group I’m in for one of my other diseases . If I don’t have side effects I will give it a few months and then see if it’s had any effect .

Thanks for the replies. I am going to try and speak to somebody at the surgery tomorrow.

I have suffered from pretty significant health anxiety in the past and I can’t face a repeat of that.

I’ve been quite unwell with this virus, my blood pressure was also raised when I had the blood taken. I’ve Lao been under stress with a personal issue. I’m wondering if these factors have elevated the enzymes? I’ve also not really been eating much, which was also the case when the ALT went over 100 a few years ago.

Have you been referred for a scan?

Sorry to jump on this thead OP and sorry you're having issues! I've had about 4 ultrasounds for liver pain and all just say I have a fatty liver.... wonder if I should do anything about that. Surely daily pain is a sign of a problem but no one seems concerned by my fatty liver. Not sure what to do! Obviously always trying to lose weight but what if that's not happening?

What are your bloods like?

@Mumbun73 I’ve had a plain ultra sound that showed fatty liver , I had the bloods redone 2 months later and they’d got worse so I’ve been referred to the liver specialist . I’m a lifelong non drinker . I’m sure it’s not an urgent referral so will likely go private in the new year . I did query whether it could be something autoimmune as I have several autoimmune diseases already . The bloods were originally done as part of my routine so not because I was actually ill

What virus have you had?

This could be VERY relevant

I had high ALT when i had viral hepatitis and also when i had glandular Fever

Both resolved with time

You don’t say how much alcohol
you drink? If it is a thing more than a couple of drinks a week it would be worth reducing.

Some kind of upper respiratory virus, bad enough to need a week off work. Feeling better now just left with a bit of a cough.

I do drink at weekends, probably around 20 units a week. I know this is over the recommended 14 units.

I’ve not drunk anything for the past few weeks with being unwell.

That much alcohol will be part of the problem. The uk guidelines still ‘allow’ some of the highest amounts of alcohol in the western world. They will hopefully come down over the next few years. They are telling us it is ok to drink a lot but it isn’t. It has been recognised that alcohol has no safe limit.
Italy, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Spain , New Zetland have all changed and now say 2-3 a week max.
Good luck with the changes you need to make. They aren’t easy but you can do it if you reach out for help and use all the support you can.

Not sure, something is definitely elevated though. This was 2023 if not before. Started in pregnancy with DD in 2021/2022 and I do have an autoimmune problem, PP mentioned that, so maybe all related.

Just a quick update if anybody is reading this.

Had bloods repeated a week later, ALT had come down from 100 to 85. So still higher than it should be but improving.

GP did some fibrosis scores and they came out as normal.

So still wondering whether it was the virus that caused it, a quick google did suggest elevations after a virus may take 4 weeks ish to normalise.

.

Hi sorry to jump on this thread but partner has has been feeling ill for a while like he has had a lingering virus, I said to me he looks a bit jaundice as whites of his eyes tinged but hard to tell in his skin as his skin looks tan and I think people have figured it’s that but a blood test has come back and it’s 155 serum alta, I forget the rest but ferritin was high too.
should we be worried?
Just says on the results book a non urgent GP appointment, I am very anxious trying not to stress so pls would be grateful for any advice

If his eyes are yellow. I would go to A&E
Male your own thread too :)