What Does My LFT Test Result Suggest?
Greater than 3 times normal. More tests needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXXXXX
How are you? Thanks for writing to HCM. My name is Dr Suresh. I am a Liver transplant surgeon and I will attempt to answer your question today.
First of all your liver enzymes are definitely high, but by no means the highest I have seen. The enzyme levels can reach upto 3000 - 4000 in severe cases and so you can relax as your levels are only in the hundreds. But having said that, high level of enzymes in the blood is not normal.
SGOT (AST) and SGPT (ALT) are enzymes which are normally present inside the liver cells. But when the liver cells get damaged, these enzymes are released into the blood and thus their levels are raised when tested. Their level will usually tell us regarding the degree of damage to the liver. Increases of upto twice the normal levels can be seen in mild infections and are usually not worrisome. But when the levels rise more than three times normal, then we should be concerned for significant liver injury and levels >1000 will reflect an acute emergency.
In your case, you have admitted to drinking heavily in the past two years. Although alcohol takes a long time to damage the liver, binge drinking may lead to acute liver injury leading to high levels of enzymes and increased bilirubin. Increased levels of Gamma GT is also somewhat specific to alcohol induced liver damage.
Your enzyme levels definitely suggests ongoing liver injury (provided previous levels were normal). What would be more helpful for diagnosing you is to see the trend of enzyme levels. If the enzymes continue to show an increase on repeat testing, then it suggests ongoing liver damage and if the enzymes show a decreasing trend, then the liver cells are recovering.
You definitely need other tests right now especially to rule out other causes of liver damage. It would be helpful if you could get tested for viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) and auto immune hepatitis. Also you need an ultrasound of the liver with liver doppler. I would advise re-testing your blood levels in 48 hours to see the trend.
Please do get back to me with the blood reports and Scan reports. I hope I will be able to assist you in your recovery and guide you further. Please do not hesitate to contact me for any further questions you might have.
Hope you feel better soon.
Dr Suresh Raghavaiah.