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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Elevated AST And ALT Levels?

I am a 27 year old male. Weigh 224, have been losing weight through diet and exercise. According to my blood tests I have elevated AST(49) and elevateed ALT (96). I drink very rarely (less than once a month), and all tests indicate I have not been exposed to Hep A, B, or C. What other conditions could be causing this?
Tue, 29 Nov 2016
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hello and thank you for asking HCM.

I have read your reports and i understand your concerns.
Normal range for AST is 10 to 40 units and for the ALT is 7 to 56 units.

In most cases, liver enzyme levels are only mildly and temporarily elevated and most of the times don't signal a chronic, serious liver problem.

Your AST/ALT are slightly higher than normal range. In these numbers no reason to be worried much.
Here are some reasons why you might have AST/ALT in those numbers:
-use of pain medications, particularly acetaminophen (Tylenol)
-Certain prescription medications,used to control cholesterol
-Stress
-Obesity
-steatosis or steatohepatitis

If i was your doctor, i would tell you to not to worry right now. You need to do again the blood tests after 1 month probably and try not to take any alcohol,or painkillers. An ultrasound of your abdomen,would help to check if your have a fat liver,or stones in your gallbladder and the elevated enzymes would correlate with these conditiones too.
Observation with lifestyle modification may be undertaken for up to six months. If your enzymes remain elevated or worsen you need to check up again with a gastroenterologyst for farther evaluation.

If you have any other question,feel free to ask me.

Dr.Endri Katro
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What Causes Elevated AST And ALT Levels?

Hello and thank you for asking HCM. I have read your reports and i understand your concerns. Normal range for AST is 10 to 40 units and for the ALT is 7 to 56 units. In most cases, liver enzyme levels are only mildly and temporarily elevated and most of the times don t signal a chronic, serious liver problem. Your AST/ALT are slightly higher than normal range. In these numbers no reason to be worried much. Here are some reasons why you might have AST/ALT in those numbers: -use of pain medications, particularly acetaminophen (Tylenol) -Certain prescription medications,used to control cholesterol -Stress -Obesity -steatosis or steatohepatitis If i was your doctor, i would tell you to not to worry right now. You need to do again the blood tests after 1 month probably and try not to take any alcohol,or painkillers. An ultrasound of your abdomen,would help to check if your have a fat liver,or stones in your gallbladder and the elevated enzymes would correlate with these conditiones too. Observation with lifestyle modification may be undertaken for up to six months. If your enzymes remain elevated or worsen you need to check up again with a gastroenterologyst for farther evaluation. If you have any other question,feel free to ask me. Dr.Endri Katro