Confused

[Mitmab]

hi

Can anyone recommend a site that can tell me what my latest blood readings are GGT 311 IU/L and AST 38 iu/L. All it says on my blood form is outside reference range. I know I have cirrhosis of the liver but how do I tell if it is compensated or decompensated. My specialist and Dr seem to be vague and just say I am doing well at the moment! whatever that means

[Wass71]

Hi, Dr's look at a big picture to assess your liver health. This involves the cause of your liver disease, and what treatment, if any, you are receiving. Some blood tests are more relevant than others. Eg Albumin being low shows the liver is struggling, this causes oedema /ascites, raised billirubin shows up as jaundice, blood clotting (inr, ptt), with low platelets can put you at risk of bleeding. To calculate Ukeld, they look at those bloods plus creatinine and sodium. AFP is a cancer marker which is checked 6 monthly for those with cirrhosis.

These tests along with scans, symptoms etc form a picture of your liver health. If you have normal levels in these tests then I would have faith in your Dr, and be reassured by what they say.

I hope you continue to have reassuring blood tests, and your health stays stable.

Best wishes

[Hidden]

Good morning Mitmab

Reference ranges differ between the reporting laboratories so it is very important to try again to see your liver specialist so they can explain and interpret your specific blood tests. They will also be looking at any scan results and other investigations you may have had to be able to discuss your stage of condition.

Very best wishes

Trust1

[Hidden]

Basically if you dont have ascites at the least you are not decompensated. The onset of ascites ,variceal bleeding, encephalopathy are all the hallmark consequences of decompensation. If those arent present than you still fall into the compensated category. Also lab ranges for normal are different depending on the lab. While your ggt is out of range for any lab your AST is not. The hepatology clinic I go to has the upper limit of normal for AST at 40 so, you would fall into normal range in my laboratory.

GGT is also not a liver specific inflammatory marker. Meaning it could be elevated for reasons that have nothing to do with your liver potentially.