High ALT (112) but everything else normal?

[KR95]

Hi guys,

Had a chat with doc today. Few months ago my ALT was 124. This month it was 112. I went to see doc for explanation. I'll footnote this with the fact I'm a heavy drinker (in the process of cutting back).

So, in light of my drinking, I was actually surprised to find out that my AST, Billirubin, and my GGT were normal. My doctor was especially keen to stress that my GGT level, which was in the fourties I believe, should reassure me that my liver isn't particularly struggling, and is surprisingly normal given my alcohol intake. She did a physical of my liver too, saying it did not feel inflamed, and everything felt normal.

She said avoid binging and keep cutting back. So, largely reassuring right? But a while go my ALT was 62, and then it spiked to the 124. She said she did not know why this is, and the liver could have been/is fighting an infection.

So, I'm a little worried now about hepatitis, which I really see no way I could have contracted (I'm deathly scared of needles and have NOT been sharing them, and I've been pretty much abstaining from sex for about 2.5 years).

She concluded I should continue cutting back on the booze, and have another test in a month or so.

My question is, what sort of common things could cause a rise in ALT and nothing else? Could alcohol consumption cause this even in the absence of a positive AST/ALT ratio and a normal GGT level? I know my doctor didn't seem too concerned beyond monitoring that ALT, so should I take that normal GGT as an indicator that things are pretty alright?

Thanks

K

[AyrshireK]

Just to point out the term hepatitis just means liver inflammation.

There are numerous ways a liver can become inflamed - alcohol is one (alcohol related hepatitis). Auto-Immune conditions (Auto-Immune Hepatitis) and indeed several viral hepatitis infections A,B,C,D,E - Hep A & Hep E are generally thought to be short lived bug type infections picked up often in eating establisments where hygiene practices are questionable & most of the time they burn out after a while though occasionally can have longer term effects. B & D often go hand in hand and B is a long term condition controllable by antiviral medication, C is the one you're probably questioning about with comment on needles and sexual activity however there are more innocent methods that people have become infected with Hep C being blood transfusions, tattoos etc. etc. Hep C is now treatable to the point of cure by new medications. All of the Hepatitis viruses can be tested for in blood tests.

OK your ALT is raised but generally for it to be a serious problem you'd be expecting ALT levels many times the norm. ALT can be raised even when a healthy person is fighting a bug or infection since the liver plays a role in the immune system.

Keep reducing the booze, have a look at the looking after your liver stuff on the BLT site and follow the advice and get a retest some time in the future and see what levels are doing then and if you feel you need it ask for further examination at that point. If you are symptom free and it's only your ALT that's slightly raised these are good signs. britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

All the best, Katie

[Nasiramaz]

Hi!! Did you ever find the cause for your higjh ALT? My situation is similar but i dont drink alchol but i am overweight. My ALT went from 23 to 54 and now 107 in the last 7 months. I have an ultrasound booked but i am super scared .