1st abnormal ALT test

Just recently my liver enzymes came back slightly elevated. Alt 68 ast 33. After reading most of everyone else numbers, these numbers maybe considered slightly elevated but it did force me to make a change. I stopped drinking alcohol period. My dr also sent me for a ultrasound of the abdomen and the test came back normal. This was the first time I had ever had elevated liver numbers. However, my alp is low. I’ve never been a heavy drinker, but I did develop a bad habit of drinking champagne every week for a while. I have stopped. I hope when I get tested again my levels would return back to normal. Has anyone ever been giving the same numbers as I have?

[Hidden]

Hello Goolsbyn,

Good morning and welcome to the forum where you will be able to get advice and support from others with experience of liver disease.

However, this is not a medical forum and none of the members are qualified to diagnose or give specific medical advice. Users are advised to NOT post test results or scans and request an interpretation from other members.

The guidelines are set out in detail in the link at the end of this post.

Test results vary according to both the individual’s whole health and the specific laboratory analysing the results.

To avoid misinterpretation and undue concerns, results can only properly be understood by a qualified medical practitioner with full knowledge of your unique medical history and circumstances.

Please don’t be discouraged from using the forum as there are members with a great deal of understanding and knowledge of living with liver disease as a patient or carer. They will be able to give you the benefit of that experience with understanding and empathy that can only come from those with first hand involvement.

Yours,

Volunteer Moderator

[Hidden]

Hello,

These are the guidelines in full.

healthunlocked.com/britishl...

Volunteer Moderator

[M8118]

I'll just speak to personal experience. My story began about 5 years ago with what my doctors view as slightly elevated ALT and AST levels. Both were higher than yours (although lab reference levels vary). My doctors were okay with just monitoring them for a while... and over the years, they've peaks and valleyed (ALT has been normal half the time).

LFTs are just an indicator of potential issues and have to be evaluated by your doctors in a broader conversation - so definitely raise your concerns with your doctor. Some people may have slightly higher levels naturally. It's not a one-size-fits-all metric that points to anything with 100% certainty.

All that said, no one (I'm assuming) will ever say reducing alcohol consumption is a bad idea in the case of liver issues, so if you have concerns, it's certainly not a horrible lifestyle change.

[Hidden in reply to M8118]

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Can I ask if your drs found the reason for your up and down elevations. Or are they still being monitored. I think at this point after the ultrasound came back normal after testing for hepatitis, doc said it could just be your weight and we might not have to do nothing. I am not obese, I maybe overweight if referencing the body index but I am 163 mostly muscle. I work out every week. I was not referred to anyone but a rheumatologist. I have had protein issues but that too is mild. I don’t know I am a walking question mark. But I am due to have more blood work done in May for my rheumatologist who can’t seem to figure out why I am testing positive for ANA after being tested for the most common autoimmune disease and testing negative. I by then my liver levels would return back to normal after I’ve stopped drinking champagne.

[M8118]

I got the full work-up... negative for everything from Hep A/B/C, obvious immuno issues, celiac, etc. Ultimately after five years of monitoring and no issues on US or MRI, a biopsy confirmed an extremely rare diagnosis of Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia (we're talking extremely obscure, so certainly do not waste your time worrying about it as a possibility).

Again, keep in close consult with your doctors, raise your concerns, and work on a monitoring plan with them.