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What Causes Elevated Liver Enzyme Levels?
Question: my GGT was 113 a year ago. Now it is 327. I have been drinking every night for the past few years and going through withdrawals every day while working. On weekends, I pretty much drank all day and evening. I have stopped drinking completely a week ago after going through the taper down effect using Librium. LDH is 241, AST is 100, and ALT is 99. I can't find anything online about the XXXXXXX numbers for each. Am I within range for my liver to heal?
Brief Answer:
probably yes
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCM.
Considering just liver enzymes, these GGT, ALT and AST elevations are considerd to be moderately high levels and these are definitely caused by alcohol intake. Of more specific evaluation of liver condition, it would be necessary to do bilirubin value and liver ultrasound, but considering these values, there is still no critical liver damage and in liver cirrhosis these findings may raise up to 700 or 800 while in liver failure it can be more than 1000.
However, alcohol withdrawal or at least reduction is definitely necessary since there is liver damage and fibrosis for sure and if you want to prevent serious consequances such as cirrhosis, cancer or transplantation, you should avoid alcohol in future. Otherwise, there will be further liver damage and cirrhosis will occur in short time, hope this is understood.
Feel free to ask further
Wish you good health.
Regards
probably yes
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCM.
Considering just liver enzymes, these GGT, ALT and AST elevations are considerd to be moderately high levels and these are definitely caused by alcohol intake. Of more specific evaluation of liver condition, it would be necessary to do bilirubin value and liver ultrasound, but considering these values, there is still no critical liver damage and in liver cirrhosis these findings may raise up to 700 or 800 while in liver failure it can be more than 1000.
However, alcohol withdrawal or at least reduction is definitely necessary since there is liver damage and fibrosis for sure and if you want to prevent serious consequances such as cirrhosis, cancer or transplantation, you should avoid alcohol in future. Otherwise, there will be further liver damage and cirrhosis will occur in short time, hope this is understood.
Feel free to ask further
Wish you good health.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I have stopped drinking for over a week now with help from withdrawal drugs. If the liver improves would it be possible to return to a very moderate alcohol intake or should I abstain for the rest of my life. I used to never drink during the week and then moderately on weekends. Is this an alternative or would that be dangerous? Also, would it be possible to smoke some weed from time to time without causing additional damage? Thank you for your advice and candor.
Brief Answer:
Hi
Detailed Answer:
weed doesn't have some negative effect on liver functions do this is not problematic,but of course it should be also used in appropriate amounts. Alcohol can be taken in future of course. It would be good now to reduce it maximally for few weeks till liver markers stabilize. Later,it can be consumed in acceptable amounts which is 0.3 of wine or 0.5l of bear daily.
Hi
Detailed Answer:
weed doesn't have some negative effect on liver functions do this is not problematic,but of course it should be also used in appropriate amounts. Alcohol can be taken in future of course. It would be good now to reduce it maximally for few weeks till liver markers stabilize. Later,it can be consumed in acceptable amounts which is 0.3 of wine or 0.5l of bear daily.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. REMY KOSHY
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