23yo heavy drinker here. I've drank heavily for about 2 years now, and had a scare a month ago when a liver function for ALT came back 127. I was told to retest in a few weeks.
I wasn't actually told that number at the time, and the receptionist delivered the news quite lightly, so I didn't drastically change my drinking. I did drink a bit less, with a bit more conscience though. I actually found out the exact figure 2 days before the retest, which shocked me and prepared me for the reality the retest would likely not be much better.
I had the test on Friday, and hadn't drank since the Saturday before it. The results have just came in: 112. The lady on the phone said this is 'still abnormal' but the doctor is not 'too concerned' and would like to speak to me 'non-urgently'.
My question is - what can I interpret from this slight drop in the enzymes? Is this a good sign more than anything?
Obviously, I'm cutting alcohol out now I know these figures.
Thanks,
K
Written by
KR95
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To reinforce what jojo has told you. stay off alcohol until you feel comfortable about either, never drinking again or drinking well with the guidelines.
You are young and if you keep yourself healthy with a good varied diet and regular exercise you should be fine.
The enzyme elevation means your liver is being negatively affected by alcohol. AST and ALT are given off when the cells die, either through apoptosis, which is the normal cell cycle mediated death or by something killing off the liver cells/hepoatocytes aka necorosis. You need to cut down to normal limits, honestly I wouldn't drink at all until they fall back into normal range. You do risk at the least a bad case of Alcoholic Hepatitis which can be deadly if continuing to drink with elevated levels. Normally, with alcohol AST will be elevated over ALT as alcohol is toxic and affects the liver at zone 3, mitochondrial damage. You're doing the right thing by cutting down, your liver might be more susceptible down the road to alcohol induced damage. Also, alcohol is loaded with sugar, you might have developed a little bit of a fatty liver from it. This can cause ALT elevations until the fat decreases. Normally, a good six months of staying sober and healthy diet can reverse it. Liver enzymes can be expected to spike before getting better. When you stop drinking, a cycle occurs called PAWs. Which, is an jmmune system response, to fixing the damage that was caused. The immune system will work harder to clear the damaged cells through phagocytosis. This can cause elevated cells, normally with PAWS you will see an increased Globulin and A/G ratio.
Keep in mind that Ast and Alt levels also have to do with the ratio between them. You can have both AST and ALT in normal range but if the ratio between them is more than 1.1:1 there could be damage.
Hi kr,you do right to stop drinking, my lvt where high and told to stop drinking,I carried on drinking the reaper man nearly got me 3 times,that was over 5 years ago I now live with the harm alcohol has done to me not pleasant,one good thing is my liver is stable and taken of transplant list,best of luck mate.
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Scaring myself silly and pretty ashamed too.
Can cirrhosis be reversed after 1 month of not drinking?
RUQ pain is gone. Should I take this as a good sign?
Only 22 and worried about cirrhosis symptoms?
My Fibroscan results.
