Fluctuating liver enzyme results.

[katmum]

Hi, I had a blood test which came back with high GGT >400 and ALT >200 over two weeks ago. Had results from a blood test on Monday today and (thankfully) my GGT is down to 285 and my ALT is 74 which is great! I’m booked in for another blood test in 3 weeks time and I’m also waiting for an ultra sound.

My question is what could cause fluctuating results? I’m very pleased they are lower even though they aren’t normal yet.

I have been drinking a lot more water and a coffee a day and abstaining from alcohol even though I drink minimally anyway and hadn’t had a drink for roughly 4 weeks pre first blood test.

[JJgut]

Your results are declining, and in 2 weeks time, they reduced significantly. That's a big drop for 2 weeks.

There could be a number of reasons why they were elevated, including but not limited to fatty liver, medications, viral hepatitis, possibly even COVID-19. You mentioned that you drink minimally.....was that the case all along prior to the first blood test? Or just the few months before the first blood test?

Ultrasound can pick up fatty liver or enlarged liver, and can probably rule out cirrhosis and any masses (I'm 95% sure of this, may want to double check). You can also ask your doctor about a viral hepatitis test to rule that out too, but if your numbers come down more in 3 weeks, they may decide that's not necessary.

Either way, the important thing is that your numbers came down significantly. Keep up with the water and no alcohol, and see how much it reduces for your next test. The research on coffee looks promising, but you'll want to make sure it's filtered coffee. Also consider looking at your diet and adding fruits and vegetables if you aren't earing enough of them.

All the best! Keep us posted as to your next test.

[katmum in reply to JJgut]

Thank you for the reply JJgut. I’m 41 and used to drink quite a bit when I was younger definitely over 15 units per week.

Someone mentioned on another thread that a liver has a memory and can be affected by a small amount of alcohol/poison if it was damaged in the past. Don’t know how true that is??

I am eating a lot more liver friendly foods over lockdown and eating mindfully rather than on a ‘diet’. Lots more fresh fruit and vegetables. So I’ll carry on as something is working!

😊

[katmum in reply to katmum]

Also the nurse did mention it could be my gallbladder?

[JJgut in reply to katmum]

The alcohol could be the reason, depending on how much cover 15 units you were drinking, and for how long. And how long before the first blood test it was.

I’ve never heard of the liver having memory of previous damage or being less resilient, but there are a lot of intricacies of the liver that I don’t know.