ALT level.

[beaton]

Hi, I've just got a readout of last weeks bloods. The ALT level is high, 53 range 10-36. I don't know what ALTs are but this is obviously not good. Everything else,liver wise is within range. My G.P. has mark my whole test as ok. Should I be worried??

I'm 61,female. I had my gallbladder removed two years ago and have fell well generally. I did have a liver scan earlier this year as I had complained of pain in my right side,sometimes so bad as to wake me at night. The scan came back clear. I do have an underactive thyroid (hashimoto's) and some arthritis.

Thanks.x

[226mt]

Hi beaton..I would not worry about the ALT level..somtimes it can go up and down if you are feeling unwell for other reasons...my ALT levels are165and although i have liver disease my doctors are not that worried..53 although just a bit elevated might come back to normal at your next routine blood tests.

[beaton in reply to 226mt]

Thanks for the reassurance 226, I think because of the pain,weight gain through thyroid trouble and the fact that my sister died of alcoholic liver disease,the reading shocked me.

[mokumalef]

Hi there,

I also have consistently slightly out of range ALT (alanine transferase). Its a liver enzyme that helps the liver heal. The 'normal' ranges have changed recently (I know for men over 40 it is 50 now, not 35 for example). I have Ank Spond (a type of arthritis) and there is some question about whether the meds we take cause this slight increase. Are you on anti-TNF's? When I discussed this with a hepatologist friend, she said people with proper liver disease have ALT that is more than 10x the normal range, and mostly the physicians don't bother until it goes over 150. I don't worry about mine anymore. Ask your physician to do AST, GGT, and ALT and then get an opinion. It does vary from month to month also, so worth monitoring for a few months if it is a worry. Hope this helps have a great weekend. Peter

[beaton in reply to mokumalef]

Thanks Peter, I don't take anything for my arthritis except ibuprofen.I can't tolerate the usual meds. so the rheumatologist deleted me from his list. Thanks for the reasurance and for the information. I'm learning to look after my body.