High Liver Enzymes?

[Jules]

I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. I suggested that my brother and mother get tested as well. My brother's doctor just notified him via telephone that his blood work came back showing a high liver enzyme count. His doctor doesn't seem like he has a good grasp on celiac disease. Does anyone know if a high liver enzyme count is a warning sign for celiac disease?

Jules

[gf4life]

Hi Jules,

According to the book Dangerous Grains by James Braly and Ron Hoggan this could be.

In the "Comprehensive List of Gluten-Associated Medical Conditions on pg. 197 it says:

Liver disease (15 times more frequent in celiac disease; 47 percent of celiac disease adults and 57 percent of celiac disease children have evidence of liver imparement; biopsy-proven liver damage has been reported in most untreated celiac disease patients):

a. Abnormal funtion tests (elevated transaminases common extraintestinal sign of celiac disease)

b. Biliary cirrhosis

c. Chronic active hepatitis

d. Nonspecific reactive hepatitis

I hope this helps. My brother also has liver problems and digestive problems, but will not get tested for celiac disease. I keep trying to get him to at least try the diet, and see if it helps him. Oh well, we can only provide the information. They have to decide to get tested or not.

God bless,

Mariann

[angel-jd1]

I found this article this morning. I found it interesting that "one in 20 patients waiting for liver transplants had undiagnosed coeliac disease." Which after diagnosis led to normal liver functions. That is wild.

-Jessica

A 10-minute remedy

By Anna Rose

Tuesday, 15 March 2005

IT TOOK just 10 minutes and a chance encounter with a second year medical resident to change Eilish O'Shea from a sick child into a normal, healthy and energetic kid.

Eilish is one of an estimated 250,000 Australians who suffer from coeliac (pronounced "see-lee-yak") disease.

Coeliac disease is a food intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.

Symptoms of coeliac disease include anaemia, fatigue, irritability, constipation and diarrhoea and can be diagnosed in children or well into adulthood.

"Eilish failed to thrive after she started on solids, she had abdominal extension and she was always sick," her mother Lesley said.

"At four years old she weighed just 10kg."

After three years and numerous tests, Lesley and Eilish were lucky enough to run into a second year medical resident who, after a 10-minute discussion, suggested that Eilish might have coeliac disease.

"After that, it was really simple to diagnose. Initial diagnosis was by a simple blood test," Lesley said.

Fortunately, coeliac disease can be treated effectively by adhering to a gluten-free diet, which means coeliacs like Eilish must avoid foods such as bread and cake that most people eat without a second thought.

Within a month of eating gluten-free, Eilish looked like a normal child.

"It isn't too difficult, as there are so many products available now, and having food products exactly labelled makes life much easier," Lesley said.

Awareness of the disease is still poor, with as many as four out of five coeliacs unaware they have the disease.

If not diagnosed, coeliac disease can lead to poor growth and limited educational attainment in children and can increase the risk of osteoporosis and cancer in later years.

Recent research from Europe has revealed one in 20 patients waiting for liver transplants had undiagnosed coeliac disease.

After changing to a gluten-free diet, liver function in these patients improved so much that they no longer needed liver transplantation.

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[maemai]

I had some blood work about 6 months ago that showed one of the liver function tests was elevated. I just got blood work done again and 2 different liver function tests were elevated. My doctor is going to test again in 6 weeks with a full liver panel. I just recently found out I have gluten sensitivity/intolerance. I tested through enterolab and found out I had the sensitivity and malabsorption. My PCP just did blood work for it and it showed positive also.

Just a note on my experience....

Martha Ann