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What Causes Slightly Elevated Liver Enzymes?
Question: My daughter has unusually high liver levels. Her alt(sgot) is 54 and her alt (sgpt) is 78. The reference levels for this test are 0 - 40 and 0 - 32 respectively. Her doctor didn't say much about this but they've been elevated for a couple of years. I think this is way too long. Can you tell what these elevated levels mean? And is there a specialist that she should be seeing? She was an IV drug user that is now on suboxone. She is 23 y.o. Thank you for any insight you can give.
Brief Answer:
Some information:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I can understand your concern, given your daughter's IV drug use history.
To put it into perspective, her liver enzymes are mildly elevated. We see people with liver enzymes in the hundreds.
We frequently see liver enzyme elevations like hers in people who are overweight from something called fatty liver disease. And some medications can also increase live enzymes a bit, and Suboxone can do this.
If they have been elevated for a couple of years, however, and given her history, I would suggest that she have some tests done to learn more about how her liver is doing. I suggest 2 things:
1. Hepatitis panel (a blood test), which should include both Hepatitis B and C. These viruses can cause liver inflammation, and IV drug use with shared needles puts a person at risk.
2. Liver ultrasound: This takes a look at the liver without use of radiation, and can show if there is fatty liver (replacement of normal liver tissue with fat) - which is reversible, or if there is scarring.
Depending on what these tests show, it may be appropriate for her to be referred to or see a gastroenterologist as they deal with problems of the liver. A hepatologist (liver specialist) is a sub specialist of gastroenterology. Usually a gastroenterologist can deal with liver issues though.
So I would not be terrified of these numbers but I would now take action to assess what is going on.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Some information:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I can understand your concern, given your daughter's IV drug use history.
To put it into perspective, her liver enzymes are mildly elevated. We see people with liver enzymes in the hundreds.
We frequently see liver enzyme elevations like hers in people who are overweight from something called fatty liver disease. And some medications can also increase live enzymes a bit, and Suboxone can do this.
If they have been elevated for a couple of years, however, and given her history, I would suggest that she have some tests done to learn more about how her liver is doing. I suggest 2 things:
1. Hepatitis panel (a blood test), which should include both Hepatitis B and C. These viruses can cause liver inflammation, and IV drug use with shared needles puts a person at risk.
2. Liver ultrasound: This takes a look at the liver without use of radiation, and can show if there is fatty liver (replacement of normal liver tissue with fat) - which is reversible, or if there is scarring.
Depending on what these tests show, it may be appropriate for her to be referred to or see a gastroenterologist as they deal with problems of the liver. A hepatologist (liver specialist) is a sub specialist of gastroenterology. Usually a gastroenterologist can deal with liver issues though.
So I would not be terrified of these numbers but I would now take action to assess what is going on.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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