HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Does My Lab Test Report Indicate?

default
Posted on Wed, 2 Dec 2015
Question: recent lab work: Glucose fasting 102, ALT 68, and HBA1C 6.3. I have Fibromyalgia and take alot of medication on a daily basis. I take Vicadin for pain.

Can the elevated ALT of 68 be due to all of the medications I take on a daily basis? I do not drink or smoke
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
yes.just not the ones you mentioned.

Detailed Answer:
First, to interpret a liver enzyme one has to know both the medical history (but frankly a lot is provided) and all the liver tests (ALT, alk phos, bilirubin; they are going to be at or near normal...so...nevermind).

Slight elevation of liver enzymes is common with some fat build up in the liver
While this may also coincide with endocrine diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency or hypercortisolism, it's type II diabetes. While it can kill the liver, I , and all internists see about 1 in 5 of the thousands of patients we see with diabetes type II and about 1 in 5 of them have elevation of liver enzymes from fat in the liver

---and approximately NONE ...EVER.. get any serious liver disease from it.

It can occur (but with OTHER LIVER ENZYMES BEING ELEVATED) with a lot of liver abnormalities like hepatitis or alcoholism (and AST is elevated) or gallstones (and the ALK PHOS is really elevated...more than the ALT).

The test for whether the liver is scarred is a simple ultrasound or a ct scan. This will show some fat in the liver, but probably not a single other problem.

It is treatable by having diabetes under control (and at 6.3 this is under control) AND better, is weight loss and exercise.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (16 minutes later)
Ok. I have not been diagnosed with Diabetes. The fasting glucose level was 102 and the HBA1C is under control at 6.3. I am overweight and have IBS. I have started a food diary with an RD. Should I be worried about my liver and having diabetes
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (55 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
worried yes; diabetes.....tricky

Detailed Answer:
6.3 is not a normal aic, and at least shows a predisposition. A glucose tolerance test is the gold standard to test for diabetes and can also show hyPOglycemia (low sugar) and predisposition to diabetes and how badly predisposed one is.

I am happy you asked a follow up, because I wanted to mention that several common medications are associated with fatty liver and elevation of liver enzymes. The most common are any that involve fat metabolism by the liver ... cholesterol and triglyceride treating medications like statins and gemfibrozil. The next most common are medicines that interact with the liver .. it's a long list including tetracyclnes, epileptic medicines used in fibromyalgia and of course alcohol.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (4 hours later)
So, i was taking Oracea for my adult acne for several months. Stopped a month or so ago. Face finally cleared up. Could that coupled with the Vicodin ( I take it every couple days for pain) for the Fibromyalgia and the Mobic and Ativan I take everyday cause the elevated liver enzyme? Or is that caused by a fatty liver and the predisposition for the Diabetes? My Grandmother was a Diabetic..my mom was not a diabetic. Thanks



GLYCOSOLATED HEMOGLOBIN A1C 6.3 H <5.7 (%)
- Increased risk for diabetes:5.7%-6.4%
- Ongoing hyperglycemia:>6.4%
- NOTE NEW NORMALS






F GLUCOSE, RANDOM 102 H 70-100 (MG/DL)
- Reference range for glucose is based on the ADA guidelines for fasting glucose.
F BLOOD UREA NITROGEN 19 0-23 (MG/DL)
F CREATININE 0.87 0.00-1.11 (MG/DL)
F SODIUM 140 135-145 (MEQ/L)
F POTASSIUM 4.6 3.5-5.1 (MEQ/L)
F CHLORIDE 103 98-110 (MEQ/L)
F CO2 28 20-31 (MEQ/L)
F ANION GAP 14 9-18
F AST 32 5-34 (U/L)
F ALT 68 H 0-55 (U/L)
F ALK PHOSPHATASE 103 40-150 (U/L)
F TOTAL BILIRUBIN 0.4 0.2-1.2 (MG/DL)
F CALCIUM 10.2 8.4-10.2 (MG/DL)
F ALBUMIN 4.2 3.3-4.7 (GM/DL)
F TOTAL PROTEIN 7.0 6.4-8.3 (GM/DL)
F CALC GFR-NON XXXXXXX XXXXXXX >60 >60 (mL/min/1.73m2)
F GFR XXXXXXX XXXXXXX >60 >60 (mL/min/1.73m2)
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
In theory the acne med

Detailed Answer:
but in practice no not really
it is pretty much exactly as I predicted
the diabetes is cclose to real diabetic numbers and a reason to get a glucose tolerance test

only one liver test is abnormal and this is usual for mildly fatty liver associated with metabolic syndrome.

vicodin has its issues but the liver injury associated with tylenol is only a overdose not usual. dose.

staying. w ith previous comments
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Does My Lab Test Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: yes.just not the ones you mentioned. Detailed Answer: First, to interpret a liver enzyme one has to know both the medical history (but frankly a lot is provided) and all the liver tests (ALT, alk phos, bilirubin; they are going to be at or near normal...so...nevermind). Slight elevation of liver enzymes is common with some fat build up in the liver While this may also coincide with endocrine diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency or hypercortisolism, it's type II diabetes. While it can kill the liver, I , and all internists see about 1 in 5 of the thousands of patients we see with diabetes type II and about 1 in 5 of them have elevation of liver enzymes from fat in the liver ---and approximately NONE ...EVER.. get any serious liver disease from it. It can occur (but with OTHER LIVER ENZYMES BEING ELEVATED) with a lot of liver abnormalities like hepatitis or alcoholism (and AST is elevated) or gallstones (and the ALK PHOS is really elevated...more than the ALT). The test for whether the liver is scarred is a simple ultrasound or a ct scan. This will show some fat in the liver, but probably not a single other problem. It is treatable by having diabetes under control (and at 6.3 this is under control) AND better, is weight loss and exercise.