Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
AST
Date Sept. 3, 2014 10:10 a.m. EDT
Result 36 u/L
Normal: 8 u/L - 48 u/l ALT
Date Sept. 3, 2014 10:10 a.m. EDT
Result 75 u/L (High)
Normal: 7 u/L - 55 u/L AST
Date June 25, 2014 07:25 p.m. EDT
Result 25 u/L
Normal: 8 u/L - 48 u/L
Alk Phos
ALT
Date June 25, 2014 07:25 p.m. EDT
Result 23 u/L
Normal: 7 u/L - 55 u/L
Date Sept. 3, 2014 10:10 a.m. EDT
Result 36 u/L
Normal: 8 u/L - 48 u/l ALT
Date Sept. 3, 2014 10:10 a.m. EDT
Result 75 u/L (High)
Normal: 7 u/L - 55 u/L AST
Date June 25, 2014 07:25 p.m. EDT
Result 25 u/L
Normal: 8 u/L - 48 u/L
Alk Phos
ALT
Date June 25, 2014 07:25 p.m. EDT
Result 23 u/L
Normal: 7 u/L - 55 u/L
The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test is used to evaluate liver function. The test is also known as a serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) test or alanine transaminase test..Why the ALT Test Is Performed
The ALT test is used to evaluate whether a patient has liver damage.
Liver damage causes an elevation in ALT levels. However, the test does not show how much damage there is or how much fibrosis (scarring) is present. The test also does not predict how severe the liver damage will become.
An ALT test may be performed regularly to:
monitor the activity of liver diseases, such as hepatitis
assess whether treatment for liver disease should be started
evaluate how well treatment is working
An increased level of ALT in the blood is a sign of liver damage. However, not all individuals with liver disease will have increased ALT. Many patients with severe liver disease or cirrhosis have normal ALT levels. "
AST and ALT are considered to be two of the most important tests to detect liver injury, although ALT is more specific for the liver than is AST and is more commonly increased than is AST. Sometimes AST is compared directly to ALT and an AST/ALT ratio is calculated. This ratio may be used to distinguish between different causes of liver damage and to distinguish liver injury from damage to heart or muscle.
AST levels are often compared with results of other tests, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, and bilirubin to help determine which form of liver disease is present.
AST is often measured to monitor treatment of persons with liver disease and may be ordered either by itself or along with other tests for this purpose.
Sometimes AST may be used to monitor people who are taking medications that are potentially toxic to the liver. If AST levels increase, then the person may be switched to another medication.
It looks to me like your alt was 23.
23 is not high.
What am I missing?
Enzymes fluctuate, there are never exactly the same even within normal range. That "elevation" is so slight it doesn't count. CatMagic went through this, over analyzing labs.
If you took a tylenol or cough medicine, that will impact results.
Relax!
Date Sept. 3, 2014 10:10 a.m. EDT
Result 75 u/L (High)
Normal: 7 u/L - 55 u/L Trissa
"Mild elevations" can be around 150
Normal levels of AST and ALT may slightly vary depending on the individual laboratory's reference values. Typically the range for normal AST is reported between 10 to 40 units per liter and ALT between 7 to 56 units per liter.
Mild elevations are generally considered to be 2-3 times higher than the normal range. In some conditions, these enzymes can be severely elevated, in the 1000s range.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/liver_blood_tests/page3_em.htm
What should I do to help people understand that a wee bit out of normal range, for most labs, means nothing?
Every lab has different parameters of "normal"
Lab results normally fluctuate
Little things you do every day can be reflected in the labs
I have seen patients considered STABLE with Their normal ALT in the 400s. 400 hundred is not a normal ALT, but for some patients, it is.
It may be that your real concern is not the number, but that hcv could be coming back. Please do not worry about that because of a ALT of 75. Your liver is trying to get better. Give it time & positive energy.
You've been undie for several months now! Rejoice!
Watching those blood test levels will make you crazy....
I have the skin rashes, which I NEVER had in past and it makes me disturbed as WHY? Maybe my liver is healing itself.
Example: My brother was a SEVERE druggie and alcoholic - I mean he would do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING ALL DAY & NIGHT and would have seizures if he did not have alcohol in his system due to his abuse.
He got beat up badly and thrown down stairs and landed on his head, and they had to remove part of his brain......Long story short, when he started to recover and could not get near alcohol or drugs, his whole body broke out in a rash of bumps for over a year.
I think it was his system or liver cleaning itself out.
NOTE: His girlfriend at age 32 died of Hep C.
So, he survived and the rash went away - but his body no longer could get the drugs and alcohol as he was "not right" any longer due to brain injury.
I know what you are going thru mentally and emotionally....I have stopped old tx in past and got the "Hep C' back.....I have my doubts on this one.....It gets in our heads and so hard to get it out!!
My Hepatologit told me MANY, MANY patients will never believe they are "cured".
I pray you find peace.