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my gamma and cdt nighmare
recentley had my gamma gt and cdt tests done as i am a recovering alcoholic been clean for 1 and half years now but my results showed that the cdt was clear which proves i havent drank in last seven days etc but gamma gt is well raised and i also have hep c wud this result be right considering the heb c and my alcoholic history ive got social services involved so this is very important indeed plz help someeone
Although this is an international site most of us here are from North America.
You might want to check out this web site located in the UK:
http://www.hepcnomads.co.uk/Welcome.html
You might want to check out this web site located in the UK:
http://www.hepcnomads.co.uk/Welcome.html
The Test
How is it used?
When is it ordered?
What does the test result mean?
Is there anything else I should know?
How is it used?
Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels may be used to determine the cause of an elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Both ALP and GGT are elevated in disease of the bile ducts and in some liver diseases, but only ALP will be elevated in bone disease. If the GGT level is normal in a person with a high ALP, the cause is most likely bone disease.
The GGT test is sometimes used to help detect liver disease and bile duct obstructions. It is usually ordered in conjunction with or as follow up to other liver tests such as ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin. Increased levels of GGT levels may indicate in general that the liver is being damaged but does not specifically point to a condition that may be causing the injury. While elevated GGT levels may be caused by liver disease, they may also be caused by alcohol consumption and/or other conditions, such as congestive heart failure.
GGT can be used to screen for chronic alcohol abuse (it will be elevated in about 75% of chronic drinkers). Sometimes it may be used to monitor for alcohol use and/or abuse in people who are receiving treatment for alcoholism or alcoholic hepatitis.
When is it ordered?
A GGT test may be ordered when someone has an elevated ALP level. An ALP test may be order alone or as part of a routine liver panel to screen for liver damage even if no symptoms are present. If results of the ALP test are high but other tests that are part of the liver panel, such as AST and ALT are not increased, then a GGT test may be ordered to help determine whether the source of the high ALP is a bone disorder or liver disease.
GGT may be ordered along with or as follow up to other liver function tests when a person has signs or symptoms that suggest liver disease. Some signs and symptoms of liver injury include:
Weakness, fatigue
Loss of appetitie
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal swelling and/or pain
Jaundice
Dark urine, light colored stool
Itching (pruritus)
GGT is increased in most diseases that cause acute damage to the liver or bile ducts but is usually not helpful in distinguishing between different causes of liver damage. For this reason, use of GGT is controversial, and guidelines published by the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases do not recommend routine use of GGT. These guidelines suggest that it can be useful in determining the cause of a high ALP.
GGT may be ordered when people with a history of alcohol abuse have completed alcohol treatment to monitor compliance with the treatment program.
What does the test result mean?
Elevated GGT levels may indicate that something is damaging the liver but not specifically what. In general, the higher the level the greater the "insult" to the liver. Elevated levels may be due to liver disease, but they may also be due to other conditions, such as congestive heart failure and alcohol consumption. A high GGT level would help rule out the cause of an increased ALP as a bone disorder.
If GGT is low or normal, then an increased ALP is more likely to be due to bone disease. A low or normal result would also indicate that it is unlikely that a person has liver disease or consumed any alcohol.
Is there anything else I should know?
Even small amounts of alcohol within 24 hours of your GGT test may cause a temporary increase in the GGT. If this occurs, your doctor may want to repeat the test.
GGT levels may be elevated in heart failure. Some studies have shown that people with increased GGT levels have an elevated risk of dying from heart disease, but the reason for this association is not known.
Drugs that may cause an elevated GGT level include phenytoin, carbamazepine, and barbiturates such as phenobarbital. Use of many other prescription and non-prescription drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), lipid-lowering drugs, antibiotics, histamine receptor blockers (used to treat excess stomach acid production), antifungal agents, antidepressants, and hormones such as testosterone, can increase GGT levels. Clofibrate and oral contraceptives can decrease GGT levels.
Smoking can also increase GGT.
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ggt/tab/test
How is it used?
When is it ordered?
What does the test result mean?
Is there anything else I should know?
How is it used?
Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels may be used to determine the cause of an elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Both ALP and GGT are elevated in disease of the bile ducts and in some liver diseases, but only ALP will be elevated in bone disease. If the GGT level is normal in a person with a high ALP, the cause is most likely bone disease.
The GGT test is sometimes used to help detect liver disease and bile duct obstructions. It is usually ordered in conjunction with or as follow up to other liver tests such as ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin. Increased levels of GGT levels may indicate in general that the liver is being damaged but does not specifically point to a condition that may be causing the injury. While elevated GGT levels may be caused by liver disease, they may also be caused by alcohol consumption and/or other conditions, such as congestive heart failure.
GGT can be used to screen for chronic alcohol abuse (it will be elevated in about 75% of chronic drinkers). Sometimes it may be used to monitor for alcohol use and/or abuse in people who are receiving treatment for alcoholism or alcoholic hepatitis.
When is it ordered?
A GGT test may be ordered when someone has an elevated ALP level. An ALP test may be order alone or as part of a routine liver panel to screen for liver damage even if no symptoms are present. If results of the ALP test are high but other tests that are part of the liver panel, such as AST and ALT are not increased, then a GGT test may be ordered to help determine whether the source of the high ALP is a bone disorder or liver disease.
GGT may be ordered along with or as follow up to other liver function tests when a person has signs or symptoms that suggest liver disease. Some signs and symptoms of liver injury include:
Weakness, fatigue
Loss of appetitie
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal swelling and/or pain
Jaundice
Dark urine, light colored stool
Itching (pruritus)
GGT is increased in most diseases that cause acute damage to the liver or bile ducts but is usually not helpful in distinguishing between different causes of liver damage. For this reason, use of GGT is controversial, and guidelines published by the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases do not recommend routine use of GGT. These guidelines suggest that it can be useful in determining the cause of a high ALP.
GGT may be ordered when people with a history of alcohol abuse have completed alcohol treatment to monitor compliance with the treatment program.
What does the test result mean?
Elevated GGT levels may indicate that something is damaging the liver but not specifically what. In general, the higher the level the greater the "insult" to the liver. Elevated levels may be due to liver disease, but they may also be due to other conditions, such as congestive heart failure and alcohol consumption. A high GGT level would help rule out the cause of an increased ALP as a bone disorder.
If GGT is low or normal, then an increased ALP is more likely to be due to bone disease. A low or normal result would also indicate that it is unlikely that a person has liver disease or consumed any alcohol.
Is there anything else I should know?
Even small amounts of alcohol within 24 hours of your GGT test may cause a temporary increase in the GGT. If this occurs, your doctor may want to repeat the test.
GGT levels may be elevated in heart failure. Some studies have shown that people with increased GGT levels have an elevated risk of dying from heart disease, but the reason for this association is not known.
Drugs that may cause an elevated GGT level include phenytoin, carbamazepine, and barbiturates such as phenobarbital. Use of many other prescription and non-prescription drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), lipid-lowering drugs, antibiotics, histamine receptor blockers (used to treat excess stomach acid production), antifungal agents, antidepressants, and hormones such as testosterone, can increase GGT levels. Clofibrate and oral contraceptives can decrease GGT levels.
Smoking can also increase GGT.
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ggt/tab/test
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