high ggt

[Luzajo]

hi, am a 55 yr old female, went to see GP with back pain and some pain in my right side, nagging type, not severe. He rang a few days ago to say all blood tests fine apart from my GGT which was 246, it has always been higher than it should be for years, i even stopped drinking wine for 3 months and it remained higher than normal. He has told me to cut out any alcohol and retest in 8-12wks. I normally drink wine at weekends, prob 2 bottles over 3 nights. Should I be very worried, as my other liver enzymes were normal.

[Aotea2012]

My consultant told me that GGT is always the most sensitive and slowest to reduce. All my bloods are normal with a very slightly elevated GGT of 53. I have cirrhosis. He wasn’t particularly concerned. I have completely eliminated alcohol. Haven’t touched a drop in nearly 2.5 years. It took a little while for GGT to get this low. Personally, I’d do as the doctor suggested and cut out alcohol and see what happens. I suspect it will return to normal. When I was first diagnosed my bloods were far from normal and they’ve returned to a stable level by healthy eating and by being abstinent.

[Luzajo in reply to Aotea2012]

Thank you for reply. I’m just worried, and waiting on an ultrasound. As my other enzyme levels were OK I keep trying to think positive that if it was very serious the GP would have referred me already. A few years ago they tested and my GP said the highest the GGT has ever been was 95, but then they never mentioned it again until now. If you dont mind me asking, what were your initial symptoms when you were then diagnosed with cirrhosis, has it reversed now? Or can that happen?

[Aotea2012 in reply to Luzajo]

I was incredibly sick and had jaundice, ascites and confusion. I had a deep rooted infection which had triggered my liver into acute on chronic liver failure. You are no where near that. With normal liver enzymes other than GGT and a GP who’s referred you for a routine ultrasound - you sound in good, sensible hands, with little to worry too much about. Just knock the alcohol on the head and I’m sure you’ll be fine. My liver damage was too severe to reverse completely, but my liver function has improved a lot and is now stable. I’m really well and feel so much better without alcohol. Strangely I haven’t craved it.

[Luzajo in reply to Aotea2012]

thank you again for reply. I hope you stay well and all the best. I will stay off wine for a while and see what happens.