Brief Answer:
Could be related

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. The episode of flu and ibuprofen use might have affected your liver, causing elevations in the transaminases. You don't say how high they were, so it is hard to assess the significance. I would not expect a huge elevation with ibuprofen. However, flu-like symptoms can occur with the onset of hepatitis, which would cause a large elevation in those tests.

You don't mention the actual CBC results. CBC is complete blood count, which measures the red cells, white cells, platelets, and degree of anemia. The tests you mention are actually chemistry tests, primarily liver function tests, although lactic dehydrogenase may be elevated in other conditions besides liver.

You mention being scheduled for a sonogram. Is this for your liver, or something else? If the transaminases were significantly high, such a test might be done to see what's going on in the liver. I would also be doing other blood tests checking to see if you have viral hepatitis.

Different drugs can sometimes cause a condition called cholestasis, where the liver has trouble releasing the toxins it has processed. That might cause the transaminases to go up as well. Typically in that case, the bilirubin level also goes way up and you would notice jaundice. If that hasn't happened, then you probably don't have cholestasis.

Hopefully, the abnormalities are related to the flu and ibuprofen use. But certainly go ahead with the sonogram and repeat blood work to be sure it normalizes and that everything is okay.

Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.

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Brief Answer:
Symptoms might resolve

Detailed Answer:
It's possible that the flu-like symptoms will go away that fast. Hepatitis A is a type of hepatitis that is passed in food and not necessarily blood or needles, so it is possible you have that. Although with acute hepatitis A you will usually get jaundiced. Some other types of viruses can cause a flu-like illness and temporarily raise the liver tests. Flu might have done that; mononucleosis could also. When you say the CBC numbers are high, I assume you are referring to the white blood cell count. That usually goes up with infection. Elevations in the other parts of the CBC can occur with a variety of other conditions. You would want to know the specifics of what was extremely high, and how high exactly it was. Your doctor is obviously concerned about something in your liver since she ordered an ultrasound. If there is concern about lymphoma because of the history in your mother, I would expect a chest x-ray would also be ordered. You are getting the ultrasound very soon, so more answers will be available. Let me know if you have further questions.

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Brief Answer:
CBC not the same as transaminase

Detailed Answer:
A bit confusing. A CBC is an entirely different test from transaminase and LDH. A CBC measures the blood cells. You have not mentioned here any blood cell reports. This would be a measure of red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets, and an indication of whether you were anemic or not. If the transaminases and LDH were extremely high, then that is suggestive of a liver problem and that is why she ordered the ultrasound. Extremely high transaminases indicate acute hepatitis. You could also see it with inflamed muscles which can occur with bad flu. Extremely high white blood cells in a CBC could indicate leukemia. This is why I am concerned about what test you are referring to. If you have the exact numbers, that would be helpful. Hope this makes things clearer.

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Brief Answer:
It's reassuring that the CBC is okay

Detailed Answer:
Good, at least other blood tests were okay. As I said, it is possible the elevated transaminases and LDH were related to the flu, but since they can also indicate the possibility of a liver problem, that needs to be checked, especially if they are extremely high. Hopefully the liver ultrasound will be okay and the levels will come down. Your doctor will most likely recheck them very soon. Best wishes.

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Brief Answer:
You're very welcome!

Detailed Answer:
You may close out the query now if you have no further questions.

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Brief Answer:
Depends on how high they were and other factors

Detailed Answer:
Assuming the elevations were related to the flu, once the flu is gone it may take several weeks depending on how high the levels were. You would see a rapid decrease early on but it may take several weeks for the levels to normalize. If there is another cause, it would depend on what it is and if it is ongoing or resolves quickly. For instance, if it's related to a blockage in the liver or gallbladder that is relieved, the levels will start decreasing rapidly in a few days. Even with acute hepatitis, where levels get into the thousands, there will be a steady drop as the hepatitis resolves. What that means is you can check the levels every few days to a week or so and if there is a steady drop, you will know the condition is resolving. If the results are not decreasing, then you would want to look for some kind of ongoing process that's maintaining the abnormalities.

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