Liver question.?!
Question: I had to take a liver test so I can take accutane. The doctor called me today and said my Alanine Transaminase is 39 and the normal range was 35. Is their any way to lower that score? I know I have to stop drinking alcohol but is their something else I can do?
Answers: I had to take a liver test so I can take accutane. The doctor called me today and said my Alanine Transaminase is 39 and the normal range was 35. Is their any way to lower that score? I know I have to stop drinking alcohol but is their something else I can do?
Ast to Alt ratio in alcohol damage to the liver is 2:1.
You do not state the AST level.
Here is the low down on ALT.
"Significantly elevated levels of ALT often suggest the existence of other medical problems such as alcoholic or viral hepatitis, congestive heart failure, liver damage, biliary duct problems, infectious mononucleosis, or myopathy. For this reason, ALT is commonly used as a way of screening for liver problems. However, elevated levels of ALT do not automatically mean that medical problems exist. Fluctuation of ALT levels is normal over the course of the day, and ALT levels can also increase in response to strenuous physical exercise[1].
When elevated ALT levels are found in the blood, the possible underlying causes can be further narrowed down by measuring other enzymes. For example, elevated ALT levels due to liver-cell damage can be distinguished from biliary duct problems by measuring alkaline phosphatase. Also, myopathy-related ALT levels can be ruled out by measuring creatine kinase enzymes.
For years, the American Red Cross used ALT testing as part of the battery of tests to ensure the safety of its blood supply by deferring donors with elevated ALT levels. The intent was to identify donors potentially infected with Hepatitis C ("non-A non-B Hepatitis") because there was no specific test for that disease at the time. With the introduction of second generation ELISA antibody tests for Hepatitis C, the Red Cross changed the ALT policy. As of July 2003, donors previously disqualified for elevated ALT levels and no other reason may be reinstated as donors by contacting the donor counseling department of their regional Red Cross organization."
To answer your question-
You may have a swing of normal.
To find the specific source of elevation, repeated ALT plus AST and the other more defining categories of ALT and tests may be indicated on follow-up.
IF the ALT continues to be elevated.
The quickest and simplest way to lower ALT which you suspect is alcohol related is to simply stop drinking alcohol.
Answer these questions to yourself, and take it from there-
Two "yes" responses indicate that the respondent should be investigated further.
1. Have you ever felt you needed to Cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt Guilty about drinking?
4. Have you ever felt you needed a drink first thing in the morning (Eye-opener) to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?
This shouldn't delay Accutane initiation but should be followed.
No, sorry. You have to stop drinking. I tried other ways, like, drinking only on the weekends, driking only on my days off, drinking when im happy, drinking when im pissed...then it began to be a regular thing...drinking because i can. What you should do now, is, get on the computer and find help. Theres tons of help out there, you need to make the desicion that thats what you want. the only answere you can get is from your motivation.