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Worrying Liver Function Test 4 days after start of detox

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Chip:
I recently completed my 3rd and final alcohol detox. I was binge drinking approx. 20 (sometimes 30) std. drinks per day for around 3 1/2 years. I must now permanently abstain from drinking and that's no problem whatsoever - I don't want to be nursing a trashed liver in my senior years (I am 61).

The drinking has made me gain weight and I am now 102 kgs ! Not good.

I was given 2 LFTs (Liver Function Tests via blood test) and the recent one, which was 4 days into the detox, showed much higher levels of ALT (Alanine transaminase), AST (Aspartate aminotransferase) and GGTWiki (Gamma-glutamyltransferase). I would expect it to come down and not up since I stopped drinking !


Enzymes explained:

Doctors commonly use the AST test to check for liver conditions, such as hepatitis. AST is usually measured together with Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT). According to liver specialists, atypical ALT results are more likely related to liver injury than atypical AST results.

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme that’s present in various tissues of your body. An enzyme is a protein that helps trigger chemical reactions that your body needs to function.

When the liver is damaged, AST can be released into the bloodstream. A high result on an AST test might indicate a problem with the liver or muscles.

Since AST levels aren’t as specific of a marker for liver damage as ALT, it’s usually measured together with ALT to check for liver problems. For example, a high AST:ALT ratio may indicate alcoholic liver diseaseTrusted Source

A gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test measures the amount of GGT in the blood. GGT is an enzyme found throughout the body, but it is mostly found in the liver. When the liver is damaged, GGT may leak into the bloodstream. High levels of GGT in the blood may be a sign of liver disease or damage to the bile ducts.


My LFT results:

AnalyteUnitsRef RangeResultT.Proteing/L(60-80)76Albuming/L(30-44)39Calc.Glob.g/L(22-42)37Total Bilirubinumol/L(<20)16GGTU/L(5-50)462 HAlk.Phos.U/L(10-35)105ALTU/L(10-50)279 HASTU/L(10-35)191 H
As you can see (in red) how deranged my liver function results are. The high GGT value is particularly concerning.

I am therefore booked in for another LFT next week to see if they have come down. If they don't then I am in big trouble. Depending on the results, I may need an ultrasound or even a biopsy. I may even have some cirrhosisWiki (which is non-reversible) or an auto-immune issue. If it's not cirrhosis then the liver damage is reversible over a long period of time.

Stay tuned and don't drink heavily and if so, not for many years !

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