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Liver enzymes are proteins
produced in the liver. Their job is to accelerate certain
types of chemical reactions in the liver. They help the liver
do its job. These enzyme levels are measured on routine blood
tests that your doctor may do in his office. The two main
tests are SGOT (also called AST) and SGPT ( also called
ALT).
What does it mean if my
liver enzymes are elevated?
Liver enzyme elevations can be caused
by many things. The list below is long but by no means
complete. Because there are so many things that can cause the
enzymes to go up, it is one of the most common abnormalities
discovered on routine blood tests. A busy internist may come across
this problem two or three times a week. Most things that cause
liver enzyme elevations are self resolving conditions or very
mild illnesses, but some conditions can have more significant
health implications.
Causes of Liver
Enzyme Elevations
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Viral Hepatitis (
hepatitis A, B, and C) |
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Other Viruses |
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Alcohol |
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Medications |
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Liver abscess |
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Tumors( benign or
cancerous) |
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 So
what do I do now?
First, don't
panic. As stated above, this is a common problem
and usually not a serious one. In my office, the first thing
we always do is repeat the test. This is done for several
reasons. First, the test could be wrong. Errors can and do
occur in lab testing. It is unavoidable. Second, as stated
above, many of these problems are self resolving. The
problem may cure itself by the time we recheck the blood
work. It's very important to avoid alcohol, drugs,
herbal remedies, and nutritional supplements in the week
leading up to the test since many of these can affect the
liver. If the repeat test is still abnormal we usually
will ask the lab to do some additional blood tests that might
help determine the cause. These will include tests for viral
hepatitis ( hepatitis A, B ,and C), as well as test for
certain genetic conditions that can cause hepatitis such as
Hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease and several types of
autoimmune hepatitis. Your doctor may also ask you to have a
liver sonogram to rule out tumors, abscesses, and a condition
known as fatty liver ( see Fatty
Liver). Fatty liver is one of the most common causes of
liver enzyme elevations in the United States. It is caused as
you would guess, by deposits of fat in the liver. This is more
common in diabetics, obese individuals and people who consume
alcohol. |
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