Focal Nodular Hyperplasia and Pregnancy...also elevated liver enzymes - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

granolawife · 03-25-2008, 02:11 PM

Anyone have experiences with this? I am trying to conceive and have 2 lesions -- one is 7 " and one is 4.5 ". They have not caused me any "symptoms" or discomfort, however I did just have my liver enzymes checked and for the first time, they were elevated/abnormal.

Anyone have elevated liver enzymes with FNH? What would cause this? This has not happened to me before and I think my masses have been there for a while.

Also...wondering if I can have a successful pregnancy without complications from FNH?

???

kt8889 · 03-25-2008, 02:42 PM

Well, I am not much help, but I found my Adenoma with elevated liver enzimes. My ALT were off the charts.(311 and 415, on two different tests, with normal being 35-150) My surgeon says that the elevated numbers has nothing to do with our "lesions", but I think many women have found them that way.
Hopefully someone will have a better answer for you.
Katie

granolawife · 03-26-2008, 07:43 AM

Thanks for the responses.

They do think that both of my lesions are FNH, however there is a question about the smaller one. They are 90% sure it's FNH (as I was told that 25% of patients with FNH have multiple lesions...??), but could possibly be an adenoma. I saw a high risk pregnancy consultant and they said that all they could tell me is that we'll keep an eye on them for any problems/growth/rupture during pregnancy... not very reassuring. I don't want to have unecessary surgery though. I am trying to figure out what to expect if I do become pregnant.

Katie, did you have yours removed? Why did you make that decision? How was the surgery and recovery?

Most troubling immediately is my elevated enzymes, which have tripled suddenly since my last blood test 10 months ago. I've known about the lesions for years, so this was a great surprise. I have previously always had normal blood tests. I have to go back for more tests tomorrow -- I think they are checking me for hepatitis, among other things...??? I cannot imagine that I could possibly have this, although my husband works in healthcare, so we are concerned that maybe he could be a carrier and not have symptoms. I don't know what the chances of that could be. I would think more likely it's related to the lesions....?

thanks again for your responses!

granolawife · 03-26-2008, 07:46 AM

how high are your enzymes and how long have they been high? what has your dr. said about this?

I am afraid to even have a glass of wine now...

kt8889 · 03-26-2008, 08:03 AM

I am having my adenoma removed next week. I am having it removed because adenomas can turn malignant and or rupture if left alone. Mine is about 9cm., so it is not huge, but not small either. You can read through the adenoma thread. Our friend from England, Nessie, had hers removed two weeks ago today, and tells us all how it went. Because you are try to get pregnant, you might want to see a liver specialist. I believe another of our friends in the liver Adenoma thread, Linda, has both, FNH and adenomas. There is a thread, FNH vs. Adenoma that started in 2003, please read through that one. We just continued from that one because they closed it. The risk with adenomas is they grow with hormones (the pill and or pregnancy) and are more of a risk to rupture during pregnancy, if they are pressed against by the baby. The liver guys are the only doctors that see this all the time understand what is going on with them. It would not hurt to talk to one, and even think about a biopsy if they are unsure. I do not mean in any way to scare you, there are many of us dealing with this, and it is just a bump in the road if you look at the big picture, but I want you to be as educated as you can be about what you have.
Where do you live? Do you live near a big city with a teaching hospital with a liver transplant unit? They are the best.
Please keep in touch with us as to what is going on. We will all keep you in our prayers, as Nessie says, we are a special group of ladies. And keep asking questions if you have more, we are here to help each other make good decisions about our own health.

Katie