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Can A Stomach Issue Lead To Abnormal Liver Function In A Blood Test?
Question: Can a stomach bug cause slightly abnormal liver function blood test results?
Brief Answer:
Yes, that is possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
While gastroenteritis is not a common cause of elevated liver enzymes, it is possible. Some medications can cause an increase in these enzymes, including acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) and statins to lower cholesterol. Alcohol, obesity and other causes are possible too. I'd suggest just retesting in 6 weeks to see if they have returned to normal.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Yes, that is possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
While gastroenteritis is not a common cause of elevated liver enzymes, it is possible. Some medications can cause an increase in these enzymes, including acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) and statins to lower cholesterol. Alcohol, obesity and other causes are possible too. I'd suggest just retesting in 6 weeks to see if they have returned to normal.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I my particular case, I had a bug which caused me to have diarrhea. The very next day day I had blood tests done which showed a slight elevation in some liver function readings. At that time my pee was darker than normal and smelled. Now everything is back to normal and I feel totally fine but I'm worried about the blood test results. What do you think?
Brief Answer:
Your stomach but must have irritated your liver a bit.
Detailed Answer:
I'm sorry I was unable to get back on line for several hours. Sorry to keep you waiting.
For there to be dark urine plus elevated liver enzymes, my thoughts are that either the virus involved the liver (although with something like Hepatitis A, the liver enzymes will be considerably high), or the gastroenteritis created some swelling/obstruction such that the liver couldn't get the processed form of bilirubin out so the result of that is dark urine and light colored stool (clay color). The third possibility is that the urine was dark from being concentrated due to dehydration as a result of the diarrhea.
If you are feeling quite well now you can get it rechecked after a couple of weeks. But since your urine was abnormal and is normal now, I will guess that the problem has resolved and was only transient.
Your stomach but must have irritated your liver a bit.
Detailed Answer:
I'm sorry I was unable to get back on line for several hours. Sorry to keep you waiting.
For there to be dark urine plus elevated liver enzymes, my thoughts are that either the virus involved the liver (although with something like Hepatitis A, the liver enzymes will be considerably high), or the gastroenteritis created some swelling/obstruction such that the liver couldn't get the processed form of bilirubin out so the result of that is dark urine and light colored stool (clay color). The third possibility is that the urine was dark from being concentrated due to dehydration as a result of the diarrhea.
If you are feeling quite well now you can get it rechecked after a couple of weeks. But since your urine was abnormal and is normal now, I will guess that the problem has resolved and was only transient.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Symptoms
Detailed Answer:
An inflamed liver, depending on the degree of the problem, can cause clay colored stool (lacking the brown pigment color), yellow skin and yellow "whites" of the eyes,
and sometimes weight loss. The liver can become enlarged also.
But the yellow skin/eyes and weight loss are more advanced symptoms.
Being overweight or drinking alcohol can make the liver enzymes increase without having noticeable liver symptoms for awhile, but the liver enzymes will be elevated and an ultrasound of the liver can show fatty replacement of normal tissue.
My guess is this was a passing infection and you are now back to normal. But if you are concerned, go in to your doctor who can palpate and percuss over the liver to check it's size. Recheck liver enzymes. And if they continue to be abnormal then an ultrasound of the liver would help provide more information.
Symptoms
Detailed Answer:
An inflamed liver, depending on the degree of the problem, can cause clay colored stool (lacking the brown pigment color), yellow skin and yellow "whites" of the eyes,
and sometimes weight loss. The liver can become enlarged also.
But the yellow skin/eyes and weight loss are more advanced symptoms.
Being overweight or drinking alcohol can make the liver enzymes increase without having noticeable liver symptoms for awhile, but the liver enzymes will be elevated and an ultrasound of the liver can show fatty replacement of normal tissue.
My guess is this was a passing infection and you are now back to normal. But if you are concerned, go in to your doctor who can palpate and percuss over the liver to check it's size. Recheck liver enzymes. And if they continue to be abnormal then an ultrasound of the liver would help provide more information.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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