Good Morning can anyone tell me what is happening when your liver function test is causingproblems this is the second time for me.?

[dannyt]

I take 15mg mtx injection weekly and humira fortnightly and mtx has always made me ill and given me side effects. This liver function test is never explained so any info would be good.

Thanks

[CaroleHe]

Hi dannyt

As far as I know the liver function tests give an indication of how well your liver breaks down the medication. If you have a high liver function test it means that your liver can't cope and could suffer permanent damage.

The same has happened to me. I have rejected two DMARDS (MTX and SSZ) because of high ALT tests. At the moment I am only taking hydroxychloroquine to give my liver a rest. I have my next rheumy appointment at the end of the month and I will find out the next step then.

I hope this helps.

Carole

[dannyt in reply to CaroleHe]

Thank you Carole

Like you my body does not tolerate DMARDS . I was on SSZ and HDQ and MTX in the vain attempt to control my disease.I am now on Humira and sub cut MTX which always makes me ill.

[helixhelix]

Your liver does lots of useful things including, as Carole says processing the drugs you take, and making some chemicals from your food that your body needs to work. It does some of this by making a type of chemical called an enzyme, and this is what the liver function tests measure. If the enzyme level starts rising it shows that your liver is having a hard time dealing with the drugs. But the liver is also one of the few organs in your body that can repair itself, and so if you stop the drugs it should quickly go back to normal. And sometimes if you then start the drugs again it copes fine. Permanent damage is rare for us if you have regular blood tests as the damage never gets too much. Hope this helps. Polly

[dannyt in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you Helix for the excellent response. I have blood tests every 4 weeks and this has happened once already so I think I might go back to tests every 2 weeks. I really hate taking MTX.

[mille]

I have heard people say that an increase in folic acid can help this problem. It has been said that 5mg of folic acid can be taken up to 6 days per week, although not on the day of the mtx. I only take 5mg one a week 3 days after mtx but others i know take it 6 days and they have said it helps liver function although best to check with rheumatologist.

[sammiebabe70]

Hi im new on here, the liver function test is it see if the meds are scarring your liver tissue and if it is then you need to stop taking them, thats what my GP told me.