High ALT of 72

[jackham]

I just got back blood test results and my ALT was 72. Previously it was 46. I am on Prevecid for reflux problems. Could that cause the elevation. Also is that considered very high? My doctor wants me to come in for an ultra sound.

TIA

[feelbad]

it sounds like a good idea given your symptoms.this would show how things are going within the liver itself and also proably check out the rest of the organs within the GI tract.i have had this test done many times for my liver and kidney disease.if i remeber my lab sheet,the high end range of(and this does vary from lab to lab)ALT is 40?so you are a bit high there.your doc just wants to rule out or rule in possible reasons for it.this can become elevated for other reasons too.if this is the only out of range type lab you have,it isn't always an indicator of actual liver function issues.some meds do cause elevations.try looking up the meds you are currently on and see what the Rxing literature states about them.it would state within that Rx lit just what labs could be affected.but given the other symptoms,i do think you definitely need that US.hopefully it is just the meds.please keep me posted on what you find out,K? FB

[jackham]

Originally Posted by feelbad

it sounds like a good idea given your symptoms.this would show how things are going within the liver itself and also proably check out the rest of the organs within the GI tract.i have had this test done many times for my liver and kidney disease.if i remeber my lab sheet,the high end range of(and this does vary from lab to lab)ALT is 40?so you are a bit high there.your doc just wants to rule out or rule in possible reasons for it.this can become elevated for other reasons too.if this is the only out of range type lab you have,it isn't always an indicator of actual liver function issues.some meds do cause elevations.try looking up the meds you are currently on and see what the Rxing literature states about them.it would state within that Rx lit just what labs could be affected.but given the other symptoms,i do think you definitely need that US.hopefully it is just the meds.please keep me posted on what you find out,K? FB

Thank you so much for your reply. That is the only level that is high but they did take 10 more vials of blood for more testing. I know that the prevacid can elevate the liver enzymes and they have been as high as 60 before and then back to the 40's. My previous doctors(GE or internist) were not phased by those levels but this new doctor is concerned. I am thinking it is from weight gain and eating very poorly for about a year. From all of the reading I have done, I think it is a fatty liver which hopefully can be dealt with by eating healthy, losing some weight and not drinking. I was told not to drink with the Prevacid except for on occasion but due to stress have been drinking a few times a week. I think that may have also contributed to the increase from the 40's last year to 72 this year. My lab lists 55 as the top for normal. I will keep you posted and good luck to you. J

[Alexandra321]

I don't think that's too high. After my gallbladder attack, my ALT leve was 630and my AST was 430. A few weeks later they were still somewhat high but my doctor didn't seem too concerned. Maybe some people's levels are just naturally a little high.

[feelbad]

labs are used as an indicator of organ function.given your GB attack,those numbers wouldn't be that abnormal(but they indicated to your doc that something wasn't right,along with your other symptoms you presented with that day),BUT if the average person was in their docs office and they were found to have that extremely high of an AST and ALT,believe me,it would raise some eyebrows and you would be sent pretty quickly for an ultrasound or CT to see what was going on,and lots more bloodwork would be done.its all relative to what is causing the higher than normal numbers,you know what i mean?having out or range numbers is just what docs use to detect possible problems.Alex,what were your last labs like right now?was anything else out of range?did they remove your GB or did the attack resolve itself? FB