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Are Elevated Iron And LDH Levels Signs Of Cancer?

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Posted on Mon, 7 Mar 2016
Question: I am a 57 year old woman of normal weight and no health issues besides for benign multi nodular thyroid. I take NO MEDICATIONS. on my blood work up dated 7/14/2015, my LDH was elevated at 251 (lab normal range 135-214). All my other panel level were normal. This was the first time I had an elevation in my liver panels. At my check up on 1/13/2106 for the first time my AST was elevated at 38 (lab normal range 10-35), My ALT was elevated at 40 (normal range lab 6-29),my iron was elevated at 171 (lab normal range is 45-160) and my LDH was slightly elevated again at 254 (lab normal range 120-250). I had an ultra sound of my abdomen (including kidney, pancreas, liver and gall bladder and it was all clear).
I was recently retested on 1/20/2016, 7 days after my last test and AST is now within normal range at 24 ( lab normal range is 0-32), and my ALT is within normal range at 29 (lab normal range is 0-33). However my iron elevation got worse at 182 (lab normal range is 30-170) and my LDH got higher at 279 (lab normal range is 135-214). Can results change that significantly so quickly ? I am terrified I have cancer. Please help
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.

After reviewing your data I would like to say that you shouldn't worry about cancer for the moment as long as you don't have weight loss (or other symptoms and signs which are x associated with cancer) and abdominal ultrasound was clear.

Please keep in mind that LDH, ALT and AST aren't tumoral markers and they may be altered in to many diseases and disorders and aren't necessarily related to liver or tumoral disease.Even common flue may slightly increase those enzymes as in your case.

This is why it's essential to repeat the blood work after two weeks because the results may change depending on to many factors.

Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Klerida
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (3 hours later)
Have you ever seen results change so abruptly from one week to the next?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

I've seen such a change during acute infection and I don't worry about these changes. If you were my patient I would recommend to do also the measurement of LDH isoenzymes in order to differentiate the origin of increased LDH.

Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Klerida
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 2266 Questions

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Are Elevated Iron And LDH Levels Signs Of Cancer?

Brief Answer: Following advice... Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you for asking! I read your query and understood your concerns. After reviewing your data I would like to say that you shouldn't worry about cancer for the moment as long as you don't have weight loss (or other symptoms and signs which are x associated with cancer) and abdominal ultrasound was clear. Please keep in mind that LDH, ALT and AST aren't tumoral markers and they may be altered in to many diseases and disorders and aren't necessarily related to liver or tumoral disease.Even common flue may slightly increase those enzymes as in your case. This is why it's essential to repeat the blood work after two weeks because the results may change depending on to many factors. Hope this will be of help! Wish you health! Dr. Klerida