My labs recently came back with AST and ALT levels of 56 and 57. My doctor thinks probably this is due to a lipid lowering drug I was taking, but I haven’t taken it in over a month so I’m skeptical.
I know I drink way too much so I’m terrified I have now damaged my liver.
Are these levels something to be worried about, in your opinion? Googling gave mixed results. Thanks.
We arn't meant to comment on blood test results as non of us are qualified to do so, however, these results are not too high above the upper limit of normal. An isolated rise in these wouldn't be too concerning, however, they are liver inflammation markers so something is perhaps aggravating your liver and as you've acknowledged that you drink too much it would be wise to address your relationship with alcohol and get a retest in a couple of months time. Doctors would only generally be concerned if this was a prolonged pattern of elevated results.
Have a read at the BLT page on alcohol and the liver. britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...
Retest after a period of reduced drinking and see how you go, if you get another elevated result it would be wise to request an imaging scan of your liver (such as ultrasound) or a fibroscan which measures liver density.
Katie
Hi Regina and welcome. It's well known that statins for cholesterol control can raise liver enzyme levels. However if you're drinking too much that can do it too. If you think about it you were taking drugs for lipid control to reduce the risk of heart attack/stroke and yet drinking too much which increases risk of heart attack/stroke- you won't get any lectures from me but it doesn't make a lot of sense does it? Best thing for your liver is not to mix statins with alcohol. You've stopped one so good time to stop or reduce the other. Give it a break for 6 weeks and see it goes. I wouldn't be terrified . Best K
I do take a statin, but my cholesterol was never really that high. I think it was 220 at its highest. It’s 170 now. The drug I stopped taking was fenofibrate. My triglycerides are always very high, like 250/300, my doctor now has me taking fish oil in its place.
Good afternoon ReginaGeorge,
No-one in this forum is medically qualified to interpret your test results, or to recommend alternative medications.
May I suggest if you have concerns about your blood test results and/or alcohol consumption, you discuss it with your own doctors who have all your medical history available to them and can safely advise you.
Take care,
Trust9
I never at any time asked for alternative medications.
Hello, I appreciate that you didnt, however others on thread had mentioned alternative medications, and I simply wanted to make you aware that no-one here is qualified to recommend medications and that for your own safety, it is always best to discuss these with your own doctors.
Take care,
Trust9
I’m still on statins. I was taking fenofibrate, that is specifically for lowering triglycerides. It’s a Fibrate, not a statin. I was initially put on that because my total cholesterol was fine, but high triglycerides. Then was put on statins about a year ago because my cholesterol went a bit above the acceptable number.
It seems like both Fibrates and statins both can cause elevated liver enzymes. I’ve emailed my doctor within the patient portal, but she’s not the most responsive.
I’m not obese, maybe 10 pounds overweight. BUT, I did used to be much thinner. My body type I gain most of my weight in my gut and since hitting 40 I’ve put on a bunch of weight going from slender to...not slender, but not fat.
I had an MRI and CT scan a little over a year ago for something unrelated and my liver was normal except for a mass that scared the hell out of me, but ended up being a hemangioma.
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