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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Severe Itching On Hands And Feet That Worsens At Night. Tests Show Elevated Liver Enzymes, BUN, Sludge In Gall Bladder. Remedy?

My wife has elevated liver enzymes , elevated BUN , had a liver, gallbladder ultrasound that was negative except for sludge in the gallbladder. She had a liver biopsy last week and we should have results this week. She is having severe itching, primarily on hands and feet, that is worse at night. Benadryl is not helping. What should she do for the itching? Bilirubin is not elevated.
Fri, 4 Jan 2013
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Itching due to liver problems is usually due to elevated bilirrubin, which is deposited in the skin when elevated, and can cause itching. If her bilirrubin is normal, then it is unlikely the itching is related to the liver. Liver diseases such as "PBC" or "PSC" can be responsible for her itching, but again these usually have an elevated bilirrubin and alkaline phosphatase. The AST and ALT may or may not be elevated in these cases. The liver biopsy is the definitive diagnostic tool. Benadryl usually is enough to relief itching (dosage of 50mg every 6 hours as needed), but alternate medications can be tried with mixed results (e.g. ursodiol, cholestyramine, etc).
The BUN elevation is probably unrelated to her issues, unless extremely elevated (>50), and together with renal failure (elevated creatinine).
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Severe Itching On Hands And Feet That Worsens At Night. Tests Show Elevated Liver Enzymes, BUN, Sludge In Gall Bladder. Remedy?

Itching due to liver problems is usually due to elevated bilirrubin, which is deposited in the skin when elevated, and can cause itching. If her bilirrubin is normal, then it is unlikely the itching is related to the liver. Liver diseases such as PBC or PSC can be responsible for her itching, but again these usually have an elevated bilirrubin and alkaline phosphatase. The AST and ALT may or may not be elevated in these cases. The liver biopsy is the definitive diagnostic tool. Benadryl usually is enough to relief itching (dosage of 50mg every 6 hours as needed), but alternate medications can be tried with mixed results (e.g. ursodiol, cholestyramine, etc). The BUN elevation is probably unrelated to her issues, unless extremely elevated ( 50), and together with renal failure (elevated creatinine).