HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Suggest Treatment For Elevated ALT Levels

Posted on Tue, 11 Oct 2016

Question: How concerned should I be that my ALT levels are slightly elevated?
I just got my lab work back and my ALT levels are at 68. My AST levels are in normal range at 29.
I was tested for many other things to include bilirubin and albumin, which all came out normal.
I am concerned that I may have damaged my liver. About two years ago I took roughly 2 grams of acetaminophen in one night after I had been drinking in the afternoon. I was a bit of a heavy drinker during this time. About a year ago, I quit drinking and recently I had a couple of glasses of wine for dinner. The next day, I noticed slight pain in my lower back, so I went to the doctor to get checked out and she ran these tests. She does not think I need to worry, as all other tests showed normal. What are your thoughts?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow...

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking on HCM!
I read carefully all your concerns and I can say as follows :
1. Your ALT level is slightly elevated and it is nothing to be worried .
Otherwise it may be related with alcohol use , fatty liver, viral infection.
2.This is why I suggest to do :
- abdominal ultrasound
- HBsAg/anti-HCV
To my opinion your ALT level is related with recent use of alcohol.
This is why I suggest to repeat AST and ALT level after 4-6 weeks.
Meantime I suggest to use sylimarine and Vit E.
Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (6 hours later)

Dr. Shehu,
Is it possible that these levels could be elevated from the single use of Acetaminophen from 2 years ago? What kind of damage could that have had on my liver? With my ALT levels elevated like this, does this mean that I can no longer safely drink alcohol?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
No your ALT level is not related with acetaminophen use two years ago because:
1. 2 gr of acetaminophen is not a toxic dosage,
The toxic dosage of acetaminophen is more than 4 gr per day.
2. It has happened two years ago and the transaminases level has been normal during this time.
This is why I strongly suggest to quit alcohol use and repeat the test after 6 weeks. It will help us to determine the role of alcohol in your transaminases level.
Hope it was helpful to you.
Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (24 minutes later)

Dr.,
my concern is that I was drinking alcohol at the time which may have a culative impact with the Acetaminophen could impact my liver. I just found out that in May of last year my ALT was at 58. My doctor did not tell me because she did not think it was an issue being elevated at a minor degree. With this added information, does this change your mind? Also, if alcohol is related, does that mean even my ALT lowers back in range that I should stay away from alcohol?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (19 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

My opinion is the same. The elevation on ALT isn't related to acetaminophen use, but is related to alcohol consumption.

Quitting drinking alcohol will help to improve liver function and will turn ALT levels to norm within a couple of weeks (within 2 months).

Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Klerida

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar