High ALT

[snowqueen7]

Hi everyone, I had a call from the RA department, acknowledging that my ALT has risen again to over 70, he asked if id been taking a new medication, or feeling unwell, im on 20mg methatroxate and 5mg folic acid, he called at a bad time and i forgot to mention id had taken Fexofenadine (hay fever) and also that id had numbing jabs at the dentist the day before my blood test....... do any of you know if these could have caused it to rise? its to late now to call back and ill worry all weekend...back at the dentist tuesday so not sure if i should cancel........thanks

[NeonkittyUK]

Hi Snowqueen, I don't know if dental anaesthetic cause ALT to raise but antihistamines and liver function blood results seems to ring a bell. I don't know enough to say any more. I do know that dental sepsis can cause ESR to rise. If you are new to Mtx your ALT can be over the norm till Mtx settles down, or anti-inflammatories can do that quickly to you and it can drop back it to normal too quite quickly as that happened to me. Was told to stop Mtx for a week by my nurse and also leave the Ibuprofen alone. Then have a repeat blood test a week later and my ALT was back to normal. Have a word with your rheumy nurse re the meds you think may have affected your result. Let them know what you had the day before the bood test. Good luck.

[snowqueen7 in reply to NeonkittyUK]

Thanks Neonkittyuk......I'll give them a ring Monday and not take hay fever pills......sulfasalazine caused my liver function to rise thats why im on Methtroxate now.

I have just googled Gum disease and it seems that is linked to RA, really good read..... i will speak to my dentist Tuesday.

Many thanks for replying

[Mmrr]

My ALT rose to 61 rom mid 30s, three weeks ago, but was back to 49 on a blood recheck 2 weeks later. I'm on biologics.

Lots of things can cause ALT to rise, minor infections, alcohol or being a bit overweight, being just three. I don't touch any alcohol at all now , I'm not implying you do, just mentioning it as a possibility with these drugs. But I am a bit overweight. 70 isn't so high, so hopefully things will settle. Drink plenty fluids , water is best. Best wishes.

[Paula-C]

My specialist nurse told me when my alt rose they don't act on it until it's over 70, they expect it to be higher than a well person because of being on mtx. She also said that they don't get worried until its in the 600's. Mine once went up to 267 in 2012. I had to stop all meds and couldn't go back on them till reading was within a normal range. It went straight back down and I've had no problems since. xx

[snowqueen7]

wow 600'S ..... i think a normal range is 32?.......mine was 74, strange that they stopped me taking so many sulfasalazine then? i would have preferred to stay on them.........ive another blood test in 2 weeks so be interesting what it says, i'll ring monday and check its not my hay fever meds, i really can't cope without them so hope they get the all clear, thanks for replying

[Pulfs]

I take same hayfever meds as you and am methotrexate, when my ALT went up was only told to stop methotrexate for 2wks then have another blood test before starting again. Been ok since and still taking hayfever meds.x

[beeckey]

Mine went up to 280 a few weeks ago repeat test and it is 150 another test on thurs so hope it is back to normal the same thing happened a few years back and this is the first since she said she was booking me in for an for a scan so have that in 2 weeks so just have to see what happens.

[Hidden]

What *is* ALT? What do the letters stand for and what is is measuring? Anyone know? In the purple booklet I first got to keep results in, it was the only one where I couldn’t work this out from the actions to take if figures were outside the norm or from general knowledge.

[snowqueen7]

Hi your ALT is your liver function..........i think normal is about 32....... im afraid thats all i know. I don't drink at all and have had a liver scan so know from that my liver looks ok.

Trudy