What Do My Blood Test Results Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 14 Sep 2016

Question: I'm 51 year old woman. Excellent health, little to moderate alcohol consumption. Take 50 mg of sertraline. Nothing else. Very
surprised at routine blood test. ALT at 492, AST 736, alkaline phosphatase 328. Protein Serum 10.1. Carb dioxide 16. All else normal. My PA ran test for hepatitis - all negative. Sent me for ultra sound. Waiting for results. What could be wrong with my liver? What questions do I ask? And what kind of doctors or specialists deal with liver?

Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You have some hepatocellular damage.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.

You have significant high level of AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase. So it suggest liver disease.

Increase hepatic enzymes suggest liver cell damage.

Your AST is higher then ALT and your hepatitis markers are also negative so it rule out viral hepatitis.

You may have alcohol induced hepatitis, drug induced hepatitis, bile duct obstruction like stone or some liver infiltrative disease like cyst or cancer

For exact diagnosis you should go for Ultrasound abdomen, serum bilirubin, albumin and globulin level and GGT.

This will give you exact idea.

You have already gone through ultrasound abdomen and report is awaited.

So please give me follow up with your ultrasound report and other markers so we can find exact cause.

For liver disease gastro enterologist doctor should be preferred. You can consult any gastroenterologist.

Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you very good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (14 hours later)

Thank you for your response. My PA called today to let me know that there were no masses detected on the ultrasound. Results indicate something is going on with the liver (could be inflammation, fatty liver) and are "non specific".

She has scheduled me to see a gastroenterologist on Thursday.

While I drink wine, it is hard to believe this could be alcohol related. I'm in great health, am 5' 9", and slightly heavy (not much). I've not drank anything or taken any over the counter medication since I got the results last Tuesday.

Is it possible that this could be Autoimmune-related hepatitis? Any specific questions I should ask the doctor on Thursday.

Thanks in advance!!

Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Most likely it is due to alcohol.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.

It can be fatty liver or alcoholic hepatitis.

There is no mass and no any obstruction so nothing to worry much about that.

It can be auto immune hepatitis but chances are less. Because in autoimmune hepatitis there is enlarged liver and high bilirubin level as well as many other symptoms. You have so symptoms and no enlarged liver so chances are rare.

It can be diagnosed by antibody testing.

You should avoid alcohol completely. Go for regular exercise. Avoid fatty meal. Take high protein diet.

No any specific questions are required. You just need some more investigation to search exact cause. So your gastro enterologist will guide you for that.

Give me follow up.

Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you very good health.

Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now

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