Blood tests

[test100001]

Hello,

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis over 20 years ago. I therefore have regular blood tests to check that the medications I take are not negatively impacting me.

In November last year I had an abnormal blood test result at hospital (ALT was 88, other liver tests were in range). I was told by my GP that this could be because of the statins I am on so she recommended that I come off these and have a blood test again in a months time. So in December I had blood tests and was told that my ALT had normalised. I was then put on some new statins and again had blood tests at my GP surgery and they again came back as ok (ALT was 40).

I then had some blood tests today at hospital and the results for my ALT came back elevated again (82).

Is it possible that ALT values can change so much over such a short period of time. I do not drink alcohol and have been eating healthily over the last 2 months and have been exercising over the last few months also.

I have no symptoms associated with my liver such as jaundice.

Thanks

[AyrshireK]

ALT can fluctuate even during the same day. A rise to only <90 is only a moderate elevation and can happen for a variety of reasons such as fighting a bug and indeed medication such as statins. Such a minor elevation probably doesn't ring alarm bells, especially when all other liver bloods are normal. If they were 4 to 5 times above upper limit of normal or continuously high it might be concerning.

It's good that they are keeping an eye on your bloods whilst on statins. Fo you keep yourself healthy too - healthy diet / exercise to prevent issues with potential fatty liver?

Katie

[kensimmons in reply to AyrshireK]

Katie is absolutely correct. ALT can go up and down by as much as 50% in the same day. Keep living healthy, good diet, no alcohol, excersize (as much as you are able). The fact that as you say all your other numbers are normal shows that you are in okay shape, just keep it all up and remember, ALT can and does fluctuate. Source -

sciencedirect.com/topics/me...

Although day-to-day variation of serum ALT (10% to 30%) is comparable to that of serum AST, ALT also shows variability of approximately 45% during the day, with highest levels observed in the afternoon. Unlike AST, strenuous exercise results in 20% lower values of serum ALT.

Please note that I am not a doctor or medical professional of any kind, so feel free to ignore what I just wrote.

Good luck!

[BritishLiverTrust11 Moderator]

Hello

We have edited your post as it goes against our Community Guidelines.

Please read the pinned posts at the top right of the first page on the forum to see the rules and guidelines about making posts on this forum. This is about posting health information, more specifically:

“In this respect the British Liver Trust asks that users do NOT post any test results or ask for specific comment on such. Test results vary according to both the individual’s whole health and the laboratory analysing the results and should, therefore, always be interpreted by the user’s own doctors/health care professionals.”

Best wishes

British Liver Trust