Raised ALT, NAFLD ruled out

[veryanxious]

Hi, I really need some advice. Disclaimers: I know this site isn’t a substitute for medical advice and I know my anxiety is extreme.

My partner, 29M, who is overweight and only used to drink socially and then in small amounts, went to the GP about fatigue a month ago (we have a 7month old and he sleeps terribly). His ALT was 90 but nothing else was abnormal. He was advised it was probably NAFLD and told to lose weight. Repeat bloods in 4 weeks and a US has been scheduled.

Four weeks later, he has lost a stone, stopped drinking entirely and his ALT is 100. The GP this time said NAFLD had been ruled out (didn’t say how?) and they need to do more bloods.

We are desperate for some idea of what this could be. We are terrified he won’t see our son grow up. We are terrified of cancer. The doctor has said ‘a virus’ is the most likely cause but there is no way he could have contracted hepatitis.

Please, anyone with advice would help so much.

[kensimmons]

Two bits of advice -

First - See a specialist (a Hepatologist) and not your GP about this. GPs, as a general rule, don't know enough about liver disease.

Second - If everything you said is true - that the only thing raised was ALT, then he is almost certainly fine. ALT values can go up and down by as much as 50% over the course of a day or two.

clinlabnavigator.com/alanin....

Good luck and get some sleep! Your partner should be just fine!

[veryanxious in reply to kensimmons]

Thank you so much for this reply. My partner has been referred to a hepatologist, so hopefully we will get some answers.

We double-checked with another GP that only his ALT was raised, which was confirmed. This GP seems to think NAFLD is likely after all, but the US will give us more information.

Thanks again - really helpful to get some advice.

[kensimmons in reply to veryanxious]

My pleasure! NAFLD can be beat! Good luck!