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What Do These CK, AST And ALT Levels Indicate?
Question: My father is 77 and received results back from blood work done on him as follows: CK 13000; AST 350 and ALT 300. He is experiencing inability to raise his arms very high, walking very slow almost in a slumbed-over posture; liver enzyme rates are extremely higher than normal. I just had him admitted to the hospital for further test last evening and are awaiting results. He works a part-time job as a security officer 3 days a week (late night). I'm almost thinking this job isn't worth it considering his condition. He's not a drinker, smoker, etc... Doctors can't figure out why his liver enzyme rate is so high. Any thoughts/tips?
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Healthcare Magic .
I read carefully your query and understand your concern about your father's health.
I am sorry that your father is going through all this.
Considering his symptoms of significant muscle weakness that seems to affect all his skeletal muscles and the results of blood tests ,CK ,AST ,ALT are very high ,it might not be related to the liver.
CK (Creatine Kinase) is an enzyme typically found in muscle cell.When muscle cells are damaged from different causes,the enzymes that are inside muscle cells get in blood.
Although AST ,ALT and LDH are considered liver enzymes because they are found in very high amounts inside liver cells, they are also found in muscle cells but here in lower concentrations.These enzymes increase in liver disease.
When we find a combination of CK elevation and AST,ALT elevation , it is more suggestive for muscle disease than liver disease.
The fact that CK is very high may indicate an inflammation of skeletal muscle.
This also can happen if your father is taking some medications that can cause muscle toxicity like statins and a large list of other medications.
Your father needs a complete evaluation like:
-Tests to exclude viral hepatitis
-Electromyography
-Muscle biopsy
-Antinuclear antibodies test
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any other question or doubts to clarify.
I will be happy to help.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena Murati
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Healthcare Magic .
I read carefully your query and understand your concern about your father's health.
I am sorry that your father is going through all this.
Considering his symptoms of significant muscle weakness that seems to affect all his skeletal muscles and the results of blood tests ,CK ,AST ,ALT are very high ,it might not be related to the liver.
CK (Creatine Kinase) is an enzyme typically found in muscle cell.When muscle cells are damaged from different causes,the enzymes that are inside muscle cells get in blood.
Although AST ,ALT and LDH are considered liver enzymes because they are found in very high amounts inside liver cells, they are also found in muscle cells but here in lower concentrations.These enzymes increase in liver disease.
When we find a combination of CK elevation and AST,ALT elevation , it is more suggestive for muscle disease than liver disease.
The fact that CK is very high may indicate an inflammation of skeletal muscle.
This also can happen if your father is taking some medications that can cause muscle toxicity like statins and a large list of other medications.
Your father needs a complete evaluation like:
-Tests to exclude viral hepatitis
-Electromyography
-Muscle biopsy
-Antinuclear antibodies test
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any other question or doubts to clarify.
I will be happy to help.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena Murati
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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