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What Do My ALT Levels Over A Period Of 3 Months Indicate?

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Posted on Mon, 11 Jan 2016
Question: I checked my ALT levels from last 3 months, and they have been elevated. They are around 63, where normal is 0 to 43.
Can you completely exclude hcv as I heard it takes more than a year for antibody test to detect. Also does hcv causes fatty liver?
I have abdominal discomfort and bloated stomach. Do I need any medication?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Amit Jain (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Anti HCV antibody become positive within 6 to 8 weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for putting your query in HCM.

I can understand your concerns. I have gone through the reports you have uploaded

Anti HCV antibody becomes positive with in 6 to 8 weeks after infection. However it can be false negative or positive in few cases. The best test for confirming is HCVRNA (qualitative)

HCV do cause fatty liver

Abdominal dicomfort and bloating may be due to dyspepsia or excessive gas. For which you can take a proton pump inhibitor like omeprazole with prokinetic agent like domperidone once a day half hr before breakfast

There are many causes of fatty liver and iincrease in ALT levels like alcohol intake, autoimmune disease and metabloic disorder. So you need tests for these also.

Meanwhile the medicines which are useful in this scenario are:
1. Tab Udiliv 300mg tds
2. Cap containing vitmain E like Cap evion 400mg od
Both these drugs are available OTC. These are to be taken till normalisation of ALT and fatty liver

Do reduce your weight by diet and exercise if you are overweight or obese
Avoid alcohol if you you drink


I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to answer that too. Remain in touch and get-well soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Amit Jain (2 hours later)
Thanks doctor.

I have actually had a PCR test for hcv(costed around 4200 inr) when I was in XXXXXXX four months after exposure. The sample was collected in my city and sent to SRL diagnostics in XXXXXXX It was negative. But there was a note below the result saying that this pcr is not most sensitive and there is a more sensitive one available, which should be used if acute hcv is suspected. But I didnt go for that as I thought this test is sufficient. That negative pcr combined with ten month anti hcv is conclusive or some people in rare cases can have false negative in both?

I also got tested for hiv till 9 months which is negative.

Please let me know if I can put hiv/hep c coinfection or hcv infection and look for other reasons. I had stomach related problems even before the exposure, but never had a liver function test then.

P.S.: Few months back, I had anal leakage problem,where I used find feces in my pants;it stopped automatically after few days.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Amit Jain (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
there is no hcv infection if hcvrna is negative

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back

Since hcvrna test was negative it suggest infection is not there.

Stomach problems may be due to acid peptic disease as I already said in previous conversation.

As far as ALT is concerned you must look for some other reason as I already mentioned.

Wish you agood health

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Amit Jain (2 days later)
Thanks doctor. What other tests do you suggest?

Like Vitamin-D test or thyroid?

My ANA test came back positive. Do you suspect any autoimmune? What kind of tests do you suggest further?

What kind of metabolic disorder to you suspect? My metabolic panel was normal, except that sugar levels have always been above 100.

Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Amit Jain (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Visit a Hepatologist for further management

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back. Sorry for delay

Since ANA is postive it may be due to autoimmune liver disease

Test which you require now are : serum albumin, serum globulin levels, serum IgG levels, endoscopy and some other tests

I will suggest you to visit a heaptologist for further evaluation since there are some indication for treatment. And for you require detail history and physical examination and some tests too.

Wish you a good health
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina
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Answered by
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Dr. Amit Jain

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 1524 Questions

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What Do My ALT Levels Over A Period Of 3 Months Indicate?

Brief Answer: Anti HCV antibody become positive within 6 to 8 weeks Detailed Answer: Hello. Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I can understand your concerns. I have gone through the reports you have uploaded Anti HCV antibody becomes positive with in 6 to 8 weeks after infection. However it can be false negative or positive in few cases. The best test for confirming is HCVRNA (qualitative) HCV do cause fatty liver Abdominal dicomfort and bloating may be due to dyspepsia or excessive gas. For which you can take a proton pump inhibitor like omeprazole with prokinetic agent like domperidone once a day half hr before breakfast There are many causes of fatty liver and iincrease in ALT levels like alcohol intake, autoimmune disease and metabloic disorder. So you need tests for these also. Meanwhile the medicines which are useful in this scenario are: 1. Tab Udiliv 300mg tds 2. Cap containing vitmain E like Cap evion 400mg od Both these drugs are available OTC. These are to be taken till normalisation of ALT and fatty liver Do reduce your weight by diet and exercise if you are overweight or obese Avoid alcohol if you you drink I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to answer that too. Remain in touch and get-well soon.