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What Does My Liver Function Test Indicate?
Question: I have been in a conversation with Dr. Benard Shehu, but was discontinued and I have new information. Please restart conversation. Dr Shehu. I have had a conversation going with you, but somehow it will not let me ask a new question. I am the patient where my doctor believes I have a liver problem because of very high readings on AST and ALT. She also took me off my Crestor 20 mg. Please reopen the conversation, as I have uploaded 4 more pages of diagnostics that were taken at my prior physical on 12-22-2016. the comparison is shocking and makes me believe there has been a problem with the test results! My most recent AST was 50 on 8-9-2016, but was 26 on 12-22-2016; and my ALT was 113 on 8-09-2016, but was 39 on 12-22-2016. Is this variation normal?? Seems like too large of a swing to believe?
Brief Answer:
Following advice...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back again!
After reviewing the data you provided I would like to say that the increase of ALT and AST (compared with the tests done on December) are caused by Crestor use. It's a well known fact that Crestor has as a side effect the increase of liver enzymes (especially AST and ALT). Usually it will need 4-12 weeks after quitting the Crestor that liver function and blood tests to normalize to previous (December) levels.
Since alcohol use may further increase liver damage and delay the normalization of liver function and tests, it's not recommended to drink during the recovery period.
Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Following advice...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back again!
After reviewing the data you provided I would like to say that the increase of ALT and AST (compared with the tests done on December) are caused by Crestor use. It's a well known fact that Crestor has as a side effect the increase of liver enzymes (especially AST and ALT). Usually it will need 4-12 weeks after quitting the Crestor that liver function and blood tests to normalize to previous (December) levels.
Since alcohol use may further increase liver damage and delay the normalization of liver function and tests, it's not recommended to drink during the recovery period.
Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you.
I was shocked to see the gigantic increase in AST and ALT, and was afraid it was either a misread in the tests or something very dramatic happened to me. I will stay off of the Crestor and lay low on the alcohol until the next blood tests.
I was also re-reading the results of the abdominal ultrasound and I saw that maybe they were not conclusive on the the "hepatic steatosis", because they stated "The liver parenchyma was diffusely echogenic, "consistent" with hepatic steatosis, "without evidence of discrete intrahepatic mass lesion".
Kind of like they are saying "it could be"!
Am I reading this wrong?
I was shocked to see the gigantic increase in AST and ALT, and was afraid it was either a misread in the tests or something very dramatic happened to me. I will stay off of the Crestor and lay low on the alcohol until the next blood tests.
I was also re-reading the results of the abdominal ultrasound and I saw that maybe they were not conclusive on the the "hepatic steatosis", because they stated "The liver parenchyma was diffusely echogenic, "consistent" with hepatic steatosis, "without evidence of discrete intrahepatic mass lesion".
Kind of like they are saying "it could be"!
Am I reading this wrong?
Brief Answer:
Following advice...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Unfortunately you are reading wrong the findings are consistent with liver steatosis, however there's no evidence of intrahepatic mass (exclude liver tumors).
As you see the findings are compatible for fatty liver disease without any other complications.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Following advice...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Unfortunately you are reading wrong the findings are consistent with liver steatosis, however there's no evidence of intrahepatic mass (exclude liver tumors).
As you see the findings are compatible for fatty liver disease without any other complications.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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