What is wrong with my liver?!
Question:
What is wrong with my liver?
Both my ALT and AST levels are 80. I had an ultrsound that came back negative. What should my next step be? Blood tests have been high twice now.
Also, my PSA is 8.27. Biopsy (prostate) was negative there as well.
Answers:
There are two types of tests that can tell if
there is a problem in the liver. One is the liver
enzymes and the other is known as the
liver function tests. Here, you have mentioned
only the ALT and AST which are liver enzymes.
There is another enzyme, Alkaline Phosphatase. The ALT is the main
enzyme that is found mostly in the liver when the liver cells become damaged. The AST,
on the other hand, is found in other organs, also.
The Alkaline Phosphatase, being elevated,
can mean that there is a problem with the
tube like structures, known as bile ducts,
that are in the liver and lead to the outside of
the liver and go to the intestines. These tubes
carry bile from the liver and can become either
malformed, block by stones formation there,
or twisted and diseased. The gallbladder,
which stores bile from the liver, may have
stones formation in it. There are also
other tests to see how well the liver is
functioning in doing it's job of helping the body
stay well. Damage cells can inhibit the liver
from functioning well...these tests are the
Bilirubin, Albumin, and INR. To read about
all these tests and know why they are done
and what the results may mean:
http://www.labtestsonline.org
No tests are 100% accurate. It depends alot
on who does the test, how the test is
performed, if the right procedures in doing the
tests was followed, and who reads the results.
There is room for error. That is why doctors
tend to do the same blood work over again a
few more times to be sure it is right and also
may have another ultrasound done.
On most tests there is a normal range to be
in...this is usually a standard to go by after
following healthy peoples results. Some people
can be above this and some people can be
below these standard numbers and it would
be considered "their" normal. By looking at
past medical history and test you may have
done, the doctor will see if this is true in your
case.
I would suggest to have more blood work done
to see if they can pinpoint the problem. I
would also suggest a repeat ultrasound or
another more advance test to be done.
Some of the things that can cause a liver problem is: abuse of alcohol, medication that
are hard on the liver itself, overdosing on
drugs or using street drugs, hereditary conditions, a viral infection like Hepatitis,
overeatting that may cause a fatty liver,
biliary problems like I mentioned above,
contact with chemicals and others.
The liver is a very quiet organ...it usually doesn't
show any symptoms until it's function start to
become impaired. Usually, it starts out as
inflammation developing in the liver. Anything
that may cause the inflammation will be helped
to heal if they can be stopped...like alcohol
or overeatting. Doctors have medications that
can help reduce the inflammation in the
liver. It is best if they catch it early so that
the liver can regenerate and heal itself before
it causes the cells of the liver to die. When the
cells die, that is when a serious problem
develops cause it usually keep progressing till
your liver has to be replaced.
The liver enzymes can be elevated for other
reasons also that do not pertain to the liver.
The doctor has to perform other test to rule
these out...like I mentioned that the AST is
found in other cells of other organs, like the
heart and lungs.
If you find out that this is liver disease, the
best doctor to see is a Hepatologist. This
doctor does research in the field of the liver
itself, specializes in the liver, and knows the
best drugs to help the patient who has liver
problems.
Your doctor may order another PSA test to
be done.
I hope this is of some help to you.