What is the most common reason for raised liver enzymes?

Question

Hi doctor,

My husband is 26 years old. He is currently taking tablet Lamotrigine 25 mg, Alprazolam 1 mg, and Buspirone 5 mg. His blood investigations show ALT is 102, AST is 55, and alkaline phosphatase is 128. He does not have any symptoms. What do these values mean? What should we do now?

Kindly give your suggestion.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The report shows that your husband's liver enzymes are raised.

From the history provided in his reports (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity), he is overweight with a BMI (body mass index) of about 29 and consumes alcohol. He is also on medications to control anxiety, bipolar disorder, and seizure disorder. Raised liver enzymes may be due to many conditions and are generally called fatty liver. The main causes include alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, chronic hepatitis with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, autoimmune disorders, granulomatous liver disorders. Transient changes in liver enzymes are also seen in viral fevers and septicemia.

I suggest you check his blood sugar, lipid profile, viral hepatitis markers, autoimmune status, and abdomen ultrasound to rule out the cause.

It is advisable to stop alcohol consumption. He has to be on a healthy diet with reduced oil and fatty food intake and needs to exercise and reduce his weight. You need to understand that fatty liver with raised liver enzymes can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.

If all the tests mentioned above return normal, his condition will be referred to as NASH (Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis).

Take care.