I have to go for a ultra sound scan in two weeks. There is obviously a problem with my liver so wanted to know if it is something bad and is my reading classed as very high?
Normal level is between 5-35 iU/L so yes that is high. However, it fluctuates during the day, can be altered by various things including exercise. If this is the only level out of your liver function tests that is abnormal than I wouldn't be concerned.
However, if you take a lot of Tylenol (acetaminophen / paracetamol) this could also raise your ALT. It is worth talking to your doctor at your US.
The liver cells make many different kinds of enzymes.
ALT, AST, GGT, ALP and more. The ALT enzymes
is most specific to the liver itself...but it could also
be raised if you have a kidney, heart, or even dehydration
problem.
[to look up any of these tests or others you may have done:
http://www.labtestsonline.org ]
The doctors don't rely on any one test alone to determine
a problem with the patient. IF he thought this was a
liver/biliary problem...he would order other blood testing
to be sure: the liver functions blood tests, the liver viral
blood tests, and also the liver cancer test.
This ALT being elevated doesn't not show the big picture..
more testing needs to be done. Also, many things can
affect the results of these tests: an intramuscular injection,
muscle injury, exercising before the test was done, taking
certain kinds of medications, etc.(even over the counter,
herbs, supplements, etc) No one blood test is
100% accurate...as you can see.
.........................
When the liver cells become damaged, the immune system
of the patients body will respond to this and cause
inflammation to develop inside the liver. This may cause
the liver to enlarge in size. The doctor can sometimes feel
this through a hands on examination...however, he can
only feel the very bottom portion of the liver.
He will order an ultrasound to confirm this.
An ultrasound will show the enlargement, if there are any
growths in the liver, how well the blood flows through the liver,
if there is a biliary duct obstruction or malformation, if there is
a gallbladder problem, and so much more.
Many different things can cause liver cell damage:
alcohol consumption, medications toxification,
chemical exposure, mushroom poisoning,
biliary obstruction/malformation/infections,
cardiac/vascular problems, auto immune disease,
fatty liver disease, hereditary condition (like the
body holding onto too much iron or copper),
viral infections (like Hepatitis A,B,C),
parasite infections, metabolic disorders,
and others.
If the cause can be found and IF it can be stopped and treatment
is started...then it will give the body a chance to heal the liver cells
and the problem can be reversed. As long as the liver cells do not
die off and form scar tissue in the liver (Cirrhosis), then this can be done.
There is a virus known as Mononucleuosis (the kissing disease)
that causes the glands to swell up and also an enlargement of
the liver...this is curable by resting and treatment.
There is no way to tell what has caused this elevation here.
It is best to wait to see what the doctor has to say.
If this does turn out to be a liver/biliary problem...then you may
request to be referred to either a gastroenterologist or hepatologist.
Best wishes..hope this info has been of some help to you.