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What Causes An Elevation In The ALT Levels And Excessive Skin Yellowing?
My mother is 71 yo. Has systemic Lupus and now suddenly has High ALT blood levels a nd her skin is yellowing. Doctor just keeps repeating Blood tests (results are not changing) and her skin coloring continues to get worse. Its is spread through to her finger tips... she is seeing a rheumatologist bc of lupus. Should she see a different doctor or just continue to let the RA keep repeating blood tests
Mon, 17 Jun 2019
Hi,
Well, jaundice is just a sign and not diseases, and treatment depends on the exact cause. Jaundice is usually a sign of certain liver disease and high bilirubin value.
Causes of jaundice vary from non-serious to potentially fatal. Levels of bilirubin in blood are normally below 1.0 mg/dL (17 µmol/L) and levels over 2-3 mg/dL (34-51 µmol/L) typically results in jaundice.
High bilirubin may be due to liver diseases such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, infections, medications, or blockage of the bile duct.
In the developed world the cause is more often blockage of the bile duct or medications.
Blockage of the bile duct may occur due to gallstones, cancer, or pancreatitis. Medical imaging such as ultrasound is useful for detecting bile duct blockage.
Treatment of jaundice is typically determined by the underlying cause. If a bile duct blockage is present surgery is typically required, otherwise, management is medical.
Medical management may involve treating infectious causes and stopping the medication that could be contributing.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon
Well, jaundice is just a sign and not diseases, and treatment depends on the exact cause. Jaundice is usually a sign of certain liver disease and high bilirubin value.
Causes of jaundice vary from non-serious to potentially fatal. Levels of bilirubin in blood are normally below 1.0 mg/dL (17 µmol/L) and levels over 2-3 mg/dL (34-51 µmol/L) typically results in jaundice.
High bilirubin may be due to liver diseases such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, infections, medications, or blockage of the bile duct.
In the developed world the cause is more often blockage of the bile duct or medications.
Blockage of the bile duct may occur due to gallstones, cancer, or pancreatitis. Medical imaging such as ultrasound is useful for detecting bile duct blockage.
Treatment of jaundice is typically determined by the underlying cause. If a bile duct blockage is present surgery is typically required, otherwise, management is medical.
Medical management may involve treating infectious causes and stopping the medication that could be contributing.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon
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