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What Does My Ultrasound Scan Report Indicate?
Question: I am female in my mid-30s. I have recently been diagnosed with inflammatory polyarthritis (with a CCP of 51) and IBS. In April, my lfts were elevated (ALT: 96; AST: 51). At the end of October, they were at 105 and 86, respectively. An ultrasound of the liver and gallbladder came back normal. I have been told that the elevated LFTs are not connected with the inflammatory polyarthritis. I drink less than 10 ETHOL drinks a year and take OTC pain medication approximately 1x a month.
Since the ultrasound came back normal, can I assume that the liver is functioning well and just have it checked during annual physicals, or is there a specific diagnosis that I should be looking further into now. Thank you for your time.
Since the ultrasound came back normal, can I assume that the liver is functioning well and just have it checked during annual physicals, or is there a specific diagnosis that I should be looking further into now. Thank you for your time.
Brief Answer:
your LFTs have to be investigated
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
transaminase elevations can be caused by various conditions. Persistent and/or high values of transaminases have to be investigated to determine the cause. I'll mention some potential causes and the required tests.
- infectious hepatitis: you can test for various hepatitis antigens and antibodies (HBsAg, AntiHBs, AntiHBc IgG/IgM, HCV, HAV)
- other infectious causes: Epstein-Barr virus, CMV. Can be tested by measuring the relevant antibodies.
- autoimmune hepatitis: antinulcear antibodies, anti-liver-kidney-microsome type 1 and soluble liver antigen.
- drugs side effect: can't be tested for it. It's a diagnosis of exclusion.
- toxins: alcohol is a common cause but various toxins may cause it. It requires a careful medical history including potential professional exposure to toxins.
- tumors and other structural causes: a negative ultrasound scan probably excludes this possibility.
- various not so common causes like wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, etc. Your doctor should check for such causes only after excluding the most common ones.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
your LFTs have to be investigated
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
transaminase elevations can be caused by various conditions. Persistent and/or high values of transaminases have to be investigated to determine the cause. I'll mention some potential causes and the required tests.
- infectious hepatitis: you can test for various hepatitis antigens and antibodies (HBsAg, AntiHBs, AntiHBc IgG/IgM, HCV, HAV)
- other infectious causes: Epstein-Barr virus, CMV. Can be tested by measuring the relevant antibodies.
- autoimmune hepatitis: antinulcear antibodies, anti-liver-kidney-microsome type 1 and soluble liver antigen.
- drugs side effect: can't be tested for it. It's a diagnosis of exclusion.
- toxins: alcohol is a common cause but various toxins may cause it. It requires a careful medical history including potential professional exposure to toxins.
- tumors and other structural causes: a negative ultrasound scan probably excludes this possibility.
- various not so common causes like wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, etc. Your doctor should check for such causes only after excluding the most common ones.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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