What are some factors that can effect high liver enzymes?!
Question: My husband took a blood test. His results showed that he had elevated liver enzymes. The week he took the test he was sick, working out and taking medicine (tylenol sinus). Could this have effected the tests? Please Help!!!
Answers: My husband took a blood test. His results showed that he had elevated liver enzymes. The week he took the test he was sick, working out and taking medicine (tylenol sinus). Could this have effected the tests? Please Help!!!
The highest levels of AST and ALT are found with disorders that cause the death of numerous liver cells (extensive hepatic necrosis). This occurs in such conditions as acute viral hepatitis A or B, pronounced liver damage inflicted by toxins as from an overdose of acetaminophen (Tylenol), and prolonged collapse of the circulatory system when the liver is deprived of fresh blood bringing oxygen and nutrients. AST and ALT serum levels in these situations can range anywhere from ten times the upper limits of normal to thousands of units/liter.
The most common cause of mild to moderate elevations of these liver enzymes is fatty liver. In the United States, the most frequent cause of fatty liver is alcohol abuse. Other causes of fatty liver include diabetes mellitus and obesity. Chronic hepatitis C is also becoming an important cause of mild to moderate liver enzyme elevations.
A host of medications can cause abnormal liver enzymes levels. Examples include:
-- Pain relief medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), neproxen (Narosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), and phenybutazone (Butazolidine)
-- Anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin), valproic acid, carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenobarbital
-- Antibiotics such as the tetracyclines, sulfonamides, isoniazid (INH), sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin
-- Cholesterol lowering drugs such as the "statins" (Mevacor, Pravachol, Lipitor, etc.) and niacin
-- Cardiovascular drugs such as amiodarone (Cordarone), hydralazine, quinidine, etc.
-- Anti-depressant drugs of the tricyclic type
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