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Liver Enzyme Question

jasonD2

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jasonD2 Experienced
jasonD2
Posted

Has anyone ever had an elevated SGPT-ALT?? My blood workup just came back perfect aside from an elevation in this enzyme. My fecal anti gliadin is still high so could there be a correlation with the gluten exposure?

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nasalady Contributor
nasalady
Posted
Has anyone ever had an elevated SGPT-ALT?? My blood workup just came back perfect aside from an elevation in this enzyme. My fecal anti gliadin is still high so could there be a correlation with the gluten exposure?

Hi jasonD2,

Yes, many people with celiac disease experience elevated liver enzymes. Here is an article on this topic posted on this site:

https://www.celiac.com/articles/1010/1/Live...mron/Page1.html

Also, since many other autoimmune diseases are associated with celiac disease (possibly even caused by celiac disease), autoimmune liver disease has been found to have some connection to celiac disease: Open Original Shared Link

I have both autoimmune hepatitis and celiac disease....plus 5 other autoimmune diseases as well. And fibromyalgia.

From the mention above of "gluten exposure", I assume that you are currently eating gluten. If you decide to go on the gluten free diet, please stay on it! It could prevent you from developing other autoimmune diseases!

Best wishes,

JoAnn

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

My levels were mildly elevated before diagnosis, and they tend to rise if I'm glutened. After an episode last year where they went up, I had a complete workup done and my GI said that the elevation in my liver enzymes was "Sprue related".

Yes, just one more reason to remain strictly gluten-free. :)

  • 1 month later...
jasonD2 Experienced
jasonD2
Posted
  • Author

i never had liver chemistry problems in the past but a recent test showed an elevated ALT of 52. everything else was peachy. Does this now mean im going to develop hepatitis? i know for a fact that i got glutened the week prior to the blood draw and am hoping it was either that, lab error or a variant. going for a retest in 2 weeks but im worried about this. anyone have a similar experience?

nasalady Contributor
nasalady
Posted
i never had liver chemistry problems in the past but a recent test showed an elevated ALT of 52. everything else was peachy. Does this now mean im going to develop hepatitis? i know for a fact that i got glutened the week prior to the blood draw and am hoping it was either that, lab error or a variant. going for a retest in 2 weeks but im worried about this. anyone have a similar experience?

Jason,

It very likely has to do with the glutening of the week prior....as I mentioned in my earlier post, it is common to have elevated liver enzymes with active celiac disease. jerseyangel also said that her enzymes rise when she is glutened.

Did you read our replies?? :)

I hope I didn't worry you with my mention of autoimmune hepatitis!

During serious flare-ups of my autoimmune hepatitis (aka AIH) before my diagnosis, my AST/ALT levels tended to hover between 1400 - 3600! Compared to that, 52 is no big deal. I mean, 40 or lower is normal! You're not that far from normal.

If you're really worried though, you could always ask your doctor to do a liver biopsy and run the AIH antibody blood tests (ANA, ASMA, or anti-LKM). But 70+ percent of those with AIH are female, so statistics make it less likely for you.

Good luck with your re-test!

JoAnn

  • 1 month later...
jasonD2 Experienced
jasonD2
Posted
  • Author

I had some blood work done a few months ago and my ALT enzyme was elevated (52 with 40 being the cutoff). I got retested and now its 117 and my AST is now high as well (53)

My doctor isnt too worried and actually did a hepatitis panel today just to rule that out. Im not in the risk group for Hep C and have been vaccinated against hep b - he really wants to check for Hep A because my stool keeps showing new parasites and we cant figure out where im getting them from. he thinks the enzymes might be elevated cause of the parasites or even some of the supplements he had me taking to treat candida (was taking wormwood)

needless to say I am very nervous and just cant seem to get a break. My candida and c.diff cleared up but now I have this to worry about..if its not one thing its something else.

Has anyone had experience with these enzymes being elevated? I have been very strict with my gluten-free diet so i really dont think its that, but who knows. If i now have to live with chronic hepatitis that will just put me over the edge..seriously!

id appreciate some feedback

thanks

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
My doctor isnt too worried

Then I wouldn't worry either. :D LIfe is too short to worry about something that hasn't happened.

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Schelinski Newbie
Schelinski
Posted

I've been having similar issues with my liver. My Doc hasn't been too worried either. I was tested for hep C over the summer - there really isn't any possible way that I could have hep C, I don't work in a hospital - never had a blood transfusion - and am not a drug user. The test came back positive and they had to do more tests which ultimately came back negative. I was retested a few months later and my numbers were ok. Just had them retested again and they are climbing again.

I've had an u/s of my liver and all was good...am on my way to see a GI next month to see if he has any thoughts on the matter.

At this point, you're doing what you can - checking your counts and such. If the DR isn't too worried, I would try not worrying. Good luck!

jasonD2 Experienced
jasonD2
Posted
  • Author

Thats strange- what could cause the false positive? I would be horrified if I got a positive result..now i have to wait 10 days

Schelinski Newbie
Schelinski
Posted
Thats strange- what could cause the false positive? I would be horrified if I got a positive result..now i have to wait 10 days

I don't really know. I was told that the initial test that was done often shows false positives...then they have to look further and the second test came back negative. Trust me, I was freaking out! But, try not to worry yourself too much! My numbers have been all over the place for a few years; ranging from normal to way off the charts. Hang in there!

Raven's Mum Newbie
Raven's Mum
Posted

Raven's had elevated liver enzymes her whole life as well as an enlarged liver and spleen. At first they thought it was the TPN she was on for so many months, then when it didn't get better after she came off the IV they said it was just a ''CF liver''. When I started learning about celiac and read about unexplained elevated liver enzymes being a symptom, I was surprised they never looked into her having celiac sooner. Even before she started the gluten free diet, her homeopath got it under control. Stunned her dorctors. lol I'm hoping she'll continue to improve in that department even more with her new diet. :D

CaraLouise Explorer
CaraLouise
Posted

Slightly elevated liver enzymes is one of my reactions to gluten. It was actually what prompted having me tested for celiac disease. Could you be getting gluten in your diet somewhere?

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