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

What Does The Following Liver Function Test Result Indicate?

Posted on Fri, 7 Nov 2014

Question: I am 31 years old and have been drinking hard since I was 18. I have tapered off over the last 3-5 years a bit from my worst but still drink heavily have concerns regarding damage to my liver. I routinely get blood work done and the doctors have always said everything looks good. I am specifically worried about my metabolic panel's findings. Specifically my AST and ALT values and the ratio between them. I have read there is a linake between the AST/ALT ratio and alcohol damage, specifically if the ratio is greater than 1, which mine is.

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/hepatology/guide-to-common-liver-tests/

In short I would like a second opinion about my blood work, specifically looking for alcohol related liver damage. Also, based on my blood work, should I still have concerns? (I understand blood work wont reveal everything in every case but in most cases if something is wrong would my blood work alert me?)

Below are my revelevent lab results from 10/2/14

Creatinine 0.90

AST 25

ALT 18

Alkaline Phosphatse 108

Bilirub 0.6

Albumin 5.3

Globulin 2.1

A/G Ratio 2.5

Protein 7.4

carbon dioxide 26

calcium 9.5

Chloriode 98

Potassium 4.0

BUN 13

Below are my OLDER metabloic results from July 2013

Sodium 140 135 - 146 mmol/L

Potassium 4.1 3.5 - 5.3 mmol/L

Chloride 101 98 - 110 mmol/L

CO2 25 19 - 30 mmol/L

Glucose 84 65 - 99 MG/DL

BUN 14 7 - 25 MG/DL

Creatinine 0.81 0.60 - 1.35 mg/dL

BUN/Creatinine Ratio N/A 6 - 22

Bun/Creatinine ratio is not reported when the BUN

and creatinine values are within normal limits.

CALCIUM 10.1 8.6 - 10.3 MG/DL

Protein, Total 7.7 6.1 - 8.1 G/DL

Albumin 5.3 3.6 - 5.1 G/DL

Globulin 2.4 1.9 - 3.7 G/DL

Albumin/Globulin Ratio 2.2 1.0 - 2.5

Bilirubin, Total 0.5 0.2 - 1.2 MG/DL

AST (SGOT) 28 10 - 40 U/L

ALT 24 9 - 46 U/L

Alkaline Phosphatase 101 40 - 115 U/L

EGFR 120 > OR = 60 mL/min/1.73m2
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX EGFR 139 > OR = 60 mL/min/1.73m2

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern.

The ratio of AST/ALT is of little benefit in sorting out the cause of liver injury except in acute alcoholic hepatitis, in which the ratio is usually greater than 2. Greater than 2 is significant , you can read that article with the reference.

Having said that all your labs are perfectly normal. The Liver function tests including ALT , GGT would indicate abnormality.An individual who is abusing alcohol may exhibit an isolated rise in GGT. This enzyme should return to normal levels in the blood stream if the person stops drinking for a few weeks.

Your main aim should be to undergo rehab and try to quit drinking to avoid alcohol hepatitis and ultimately cirrhosis.

May the odds be in your favor.

Let me know if you have any query

wishing you best of health

Thanks

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

So would it be safe to say the if I had any serious liver damage the blood work would have shown some abnormalities? In other words, given that my blood work is normal its safe to assume my liver is in relatively good shape (or at least not seriously damaged)?

You mention Alcohol Hep, I was specifically worried about this. Would my labs provide indications if I had alcoholic Hep? Or is blood work unrevealing in most cases?

Thanks again for your help!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
yes , labs can provide indication

Detailed Answer:
hello again

yes, labs such as CRP, GGT, SGPT in conjunction with clinical evidence can conclude a diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis.

thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (3 minutes later)

So the labs above would not rule out Hep, I should have further tests done to be sure?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
explained

Detailed Answer:
The labs will rise in the acute episode setting but then settle down or stay chronically minimally elevated in a later stage.

The gold standard is a liver Biopsy to be sure, that there is no damage done or to know the extent of the damage.

I would advise you to first undergo rehab and repeat the same labs I stated in my previous answer , their normal range will show no acute injury if sustained remission from drinking is there

thanks

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

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