ALT and statins

[Alexa445]

Hello!Does anybody has had their ALT levels(liver) increased ?Im wondering if the statins may caused this.Thank you

[84green]

Hi Alexa.

I personally haven’t. My bilirubin has always been elevated even before I started on statins but my other liver function tests were ok.

That said, they can have a negative effect on the liver for some people - which is why LFT’s are normally done two or three months after starting a statin.

As always, best to discuss with your GP. But don’t worry, livers are very good at repairing themselves and the rise in ALT maybe be unconnected.

Best wishes

[Mary_Janet]

Hi

Yes I Have had an issue with my ALT levels, the ate not affect how I feel . I take the statin

Pravastatin and My ALT levels have raised a couple of times and then self settled. My lipid doctor is thinking I may need a liver scan at some stage.

[Alexa445 in reply to Mary_Janet]

The thing is that his cholesterol levels are low,other liver test like bilirubin level is ok,albumin is ok and alkaline phosphatase is also good.Just the ALT level is increased.Hope is just the statins,as he is taking high dose(80 mg)

[Ruadh in reply to Alexa445]

As his cholesterol levels are low and all other tests OK, why is he on statins ? The body needs cholesterol, especially the brain, which needs cholesterol to function. Look askance at the prescribing line, and check out the very many sources that openly discuss the inherent problems with the taking of statins.

[Alexa445 in reply to Ruadh]

He is taking it after he had a heart attack in January,but it was no problem with cholesterol,we just found out he is having a bone marrow disorder(ET),so that was the problem for the heart attack.He is 28 yeard old

[Ruadh]

Yes. Is a known and very possible side effect from the statins. Discuss with yr cardiologist, but don't be too surprised if this side effect is sidelined. Statins are the bread winners for pharma and the stuff for the back pockets of many.

[Chappychap]

Let's correct a common misapprehension. Statins are long out of patent, therefore no one makes much money from them any more.

You must make your own decisions about your medication, personally statins are the part of my medication that I most value.

Not really for their cholesterol effect (my cholesterol isn't that much of a problem) but more for two other benefits. Firstly their proven capacity to stabilise plaque, therefore directly reducing the risk of heart attacks. And secondly for their ability to reduce background inflammation, which is increasingly being seen as one of the primary causes of heart disease.

[Ruadh in reply to Chappychap]

Statins - still being pushed but not so much to the n'th degree as of yore, as their ?efficacy is being heavily queried by many in the medical world, and, we now are aware of the PCSK9 inhibitors that are being subtly pushed in its stead - big bucks there. Also see use of ezetimibe. Also might look at this, from the American College of Cardiology, as they discuss the use of alternatives to taking statins or the PCSK9 : cardiosmart.org/news/2018/7...

As for inflammation, check out the levels of NO and the use of supplementing for better levels of NO - cuts down inflammation, which statin use very slightly achieves. Much better to use L'Arginine and even beetroot; both 'up' NO :-

"In the body, the amino acid arginine changes into nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter that helps blood vessels relax ..." Also helps with hypertension.

[Ruadh in reply to Ruadh]

PS : Can also check out another vasodilator, such as hydralazine which can increase cardiac output.

IF you really want to see what is going on, go for a CAC scan. Will show up calcification, one of the best studies that a person can go for. Is now approved by the NHS, the FDA, and the AHA, and the IHF - Irish Heart Foundation - and most of Europe. Get a CAC score, even to pay privately, it aint ruinous and will give the time of day.

CT scan allows an objective measurement and quantification of calcification. ... AVC can be quantified upon the same CT examination as CAC. Aortic valve calcification using multislice CT. Way to go - Check out Ivor Cummins and the Irish Heart Foundation - fount of excellent knowledge (even if you don't like Cummins, don't let that stand in the way of good facts and knowledge.)

A CAC scan is by far the best diagnostic tool in the bag. Means having a knowledgeable and proactive doctor, who insists on a CAC scan.

Am I on a 'mission' about the CAC scan ? Well, it is a good tool in the small armament of tools available at this time - so yes - CAC, all for it...

[Ruadh in reply to Ruadh]

Of pertinence in this present discussion - and put up elsewhere on this heart forum -

todaysgeriatricmedicine.com...

(snip...) "“We’ve been using cholesterol-lowering drugs for several decades now, and there has only been an increase in heart disease and no decrease,” Dean adds. “If cholesterol were the problem and statin drugs the solution, there should be a commensurate lowering of the incidence of this condition.”

"She explains just how magnesium intake influences heart health: “The highest levels of magnesium in the whole body are in the heart, specifically in the left ventricle, which does the most work. Magnesium is the gatekeeper for calcium being allowed into muscle cells to cause contraction. Then magnesium ushers the calcium out of the cell. Without magnesium to guard the channel, calcium floods the cell and leads to hypercontraction of the muscle cells, which translates into angina and even heart attack.”

Why all the concern with cholesterol then? According to Rosanoff, the medical community started to consider cholesterol and saturated fat to be the main culprits of heart disease as far back as 1957, even though her research showed strongly convincing data at that time that low magnesium levels were behind atherogenesis. Couple this “wrong turn” of focus with a population that’s been increasing calcium intake without increasing magnesium intake, and you have an exacerbated problem, according to researchers." (more...)

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Ruadh]

Hello Ruadh

This is a peer to peer support forum.

Would you feel comfortable sharing your heart condition with us all?

Admin provided these helpful guidelines for the forum below.

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

[Ruadh in reply to Milkfairy]

Sure - here ya go, but think I've supplied before.

hypertension - allergic reactions to 16 meds so far, some reactions severe. Now gone alternative.

Micro angina - Prinzmetal. Good fun, especially when fell head first into a supermarket trolley on the frozen section, C'mas eve, couple of years ago - was a biggie attack. Recovered. now carry a med with me.

Three MIs. Last one was a right good'un, Sept 2019. Still here, with a few side effects, but they are slowly dispersing.

A-Fib. Can be dramatic. A big one had me almost shaken out of the bed. Sort of amusing.

Some artherosclerosis - Carotid, left side slightly sclerosed

PAD - DVT, ischemic attack, beautifully taken care of by one, a good GP and two, by my vascular surgeon, excellent anaesthetist and good nursing and medical team. Saved my leg. Good man. Off anticoagulants. Walking well'ish, 'well'ish' due to MS nuisance...

If you would like the rest : MS; AS - ankylosing spondylitis - inflammatory spine disease; COPD; NTG glaucoma, that is low tension Glaucoma, otherwise known as Flammer Syndrome Named after Prof Emeritus Josef Flammer, Bern, whose son is a superb cardiologist. Father and son have done some excellent and historic work. Sjogren's - kept in check re the eyes with good drops and hot water eye baths; Raynaud's; Tinnitus; Costochondritus; Actinic keratosis - nice one this, and a bally nuisance. A possible 'burnt out' GCA, which has left me blind in the right eye - totally missed by inept ophthos, the so called specialists, who 'now say' burnt out GCA. Ha. Can't invent it can you ! Horrific gut problems, left from six years of NSAIDs - has now led to rectal prolapse - exacerbated by the MS. Oh the joys.

That's enough o'that. Tedious, And, no, apart from the Monoprost drops for Glaucoma, and my supplements and vitamins, I take no medication. Am 83, have my own teeth, good hearing, though walking can be a bit of a nuisance, (though had to give up horse riding and showing). Still drive (a car), and yes, have passed the specific medical for such, TG. Though my very good, though small 4x4, has just failed its controle technique (in France, where I live - & MOT to Britain.)

OK. There ya go - en longue histoire, though suitably shortened in compliance with your interrogation.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Ruadh]

I am sorry to hear that you have the challenge of so many conditions all at once. I am afraid I missed your previous listing so thank you for repeating this.

It gives context to your replies.

I also live with Microvascular and Vasospastic angina along with migraine and Raynaud's phenomenon.

How was your condition diagnosed? It is a notoriously challenging condition to get a confirmed diagnosis and good treatment as there are so few Cardiologist with much experience treating MVA and Vasospastic angina.

I hope you have access to good care.

[Handel in reply to Chappychap]

Well said xx

[Maisie2014]

Yes I had to stop taking statins

[Speakeazi]

Yes, but I was switched to another and my ALT is in normal range. I also had a liver scan and for once a scanned part of my body was really healthy!!

[Pebbles20]

Yes my liver levels up and I take stains.

[marypw]

Yes, it's pretty common - that's why many GPs do a check about a month after you've started on a statin. I had to switch from atorvastatin to simvastatin because of a rise in LFTs. I'm fine since the switch.

[Alexa445 in reply to marypw]

Yes,they should check after a month,but our GP send him for blood work after 6 months.And he didnt even mention about ALT increase,i just saw 2 days ago in his online medical record that result.He need to give him a call

[Bluenile]

I had problems. Started with terrible itching on my arms and general feeling of illness. My H/A recovery was about three months in and had otherwise been going ok. Nurse said I looked very yellow and doctor took me straight off the Atorvastatin. My numbers gradually all came down over a period of months and I actually started to feel a bit better straight away. That was all at the beginning of Covid and the doctor has decided not to try another statin until we are in a better Covid position. My cholesterol is fine so no immediate worry.

[Alexa445 in reply to Bluenile]

Do you know how much was increased your numbers?(liver)

[Bluenile]

I can't remember the numbers but it was stupid high. The doctor said I had statin induced hepatitis and I had to work hard to persuade him not to hospitalise me. I was getting twice weekly blood tests for months. Every time they were coming down slowly. Hope you are ok. I had three stents last Nov after H/A. I am 61 and I feel fine now so hang in.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I suggest you discuss this result with the Health professional who ordered your blood test.

It maybe necessary for you to change the statin you are taking.

[Hidden]

Hi Alexa,

I had a replacement aortic valve nearly three years ago and prior to this I was put on statins as a precaution after having an angiogram. When I went into hospital several months later for the operation it was found that my liver readings were all over the place. They then took me off statins and my doctor has not put me back on since. My cholesterol is usually pretty well controlled but not having had my bloods checked for over a year due to routine checks not being done at the local surgery at present, I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Best wishes,

Uppercombe

[Alexa445 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!He had heart attack so he need to take them for life,his cholesterol is low,under limit,maybe they will change the dosage as he take maximum one🥺.we will see today