Elevated levels of SGOT SGPT & LDH

[Aerostraight]

I have not been diagnosed with Hepatitis, but CAD and a fatty liver. Figured this forum would be most fitting to my question, since this is about my Liver. I'm 46 and had two mild heart attacks four years ago. Daily, I'm on:

NORVASC,
PLAVIX
AVAPRO
TOPROL XL
81 mg ASPRI
LIBRAX (digestive spasms)
ACIPHEX,
2.5 MG crestor
.5 mg XANEX (helps lower BP)
2 ALCOHOLIC DRINKS PER evening (also lowers BP)

My recent blood tests results (Fasting):

SGOT          54    High
SGPT         120    High
LDH          260    High
Fructasimine 1.39   Low

Cholesterol was little high, but everything else in range.
(High Cholesterol was expected) For the last four years, my blood test results have been about the same, always a little high on SGOT and SGPT. I have abstained from alcohol in the past for a few months, but my test results remain the same. I was on LIPITOR and was taken off it due to higher liver numbers.

My questions:
Is the alcohol solely responsible for a damaged liver?
Are any of the medications I'm on causing liver damage?
Are these elevated enzyme levels OK to live with?

[nygirl7]

Dear Aero

Sorry Aero but we're all patients on here - no doctors.

It sounds like you gottalotta things going on and I think it would be very presumptious for any of us to begin to pretend that we understand anything except - yes something is damaging your liver because you do have elevated liver enzymes.  When a liver cell dies, it releases and enzyme - so the more enzymes the more is being killed off.  Subsequently it would go to say that if you do drink on a constant basis (and you do admit to having fatty liver which can be indicative of this I believe) you should really be seeing the doctor until you can find out what is going on.

Hep is a big "silent" killer out there.  So can be alcohol you know so the two (if you were to have hpe) go hand and hand in some bad stuff.  I had no idea I had hep at all and was pretty shocked when I found out (got blood work back and had high liver enzymes just like you) and I am already stage 3.

I had no clue.

Meds can raise the enzymes, so can a LOT of things I suppose (herbs, vitamins alcohol drugs etc) but you really can't know unless you rule out hepc if you have it or not.

Its just a simple blood test and would be worth taking for you.

sorry know that wasn't helpful at all but I just don't think there is any way any of us could tell you anything different.

I wish I could then you could call me Doctor NYgirl.

Good luck and best wishes,
Get the test and a biopsy too if you can!

[jmjm530]

As stated, no doctors here, nor is the information you present complete enough for even a doctor to advise.

What is apparent, however, is that you have two issues -- CAD and Fatty liver -- and depending on the severity of each, you need to treat both in a prioritized and complementary fashion.

To treat the two issues, you would want to be under the care of both a liver specialist (hepatologist) as well as a cardiologist, if you aren't already. Together, they should be able to determine what further tests are needed, if any, and advise you of a reasonable treatment approach.  

A quick look at your med suggests you already are being treated for cardiac symptons, high bp and at one point high cholesterol. The fact that you were taken off Lipitor suggests your doctors felt the risks were outweighing the benefits. Hopefully you liver enzymes were monitored quite carefully so a cause and effect could be shown. I specifically mention the Lipitor because in theory Lipitor should not only help your cardiac issues, but your fatty liver as well. Another reason to see real specialists in the field if you aren't already.

All the best,

-- Jim

[rosebud57]

i am always in awe of your responses. i wonder if i am way out of line to ask your base for expetise - is it career/profession or accumulated knowledge from dealing with your own issues?

if you choose not to say i understand.
rose