Alcoholic, Overweight, Alcoholic Hepatitis, Liver Function Tests

Posted on Fri, 27 May 2011

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 27 May 2011 Answered on

Tue, 22 May 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : my daughter is a recovering alcoholic with normal liver function readings but gammagt reading of 80 which will not reduce.she says that she is not drinking.she is aged 29 and overweight by approx. 2stones.she has had alcoholic hepatitis within the last 12 months but relapsed for 7days 6 weeks ago during which time she drank approx 250 units

Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (2 hours later)

Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

Gamma GT is a very sensitive test and can be raised by something as simple as taking paracetamol regularly or taking alcohol for a long time resulting in chronic liver damage. The other cause are damage to the liver by hepatitis and alcoholic hepatitis (which she had a relapse sometimes back) may be responsible for the raised gamma GT levels.

Did you get her AST and ALT levels done after the hepatitis relapse?

You have mentioned that she is overweight. It is hence important to rule out is non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which resembles alcoholic liver disease, but occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. XXXXXXX is a condition in which liver enzymes are often raised. A liver biospy is needed to rule out XXXXXXX Reducing body weight and obesity and hyperlipidemia (if any) helps in XXXXXXX

Please discuss this possibility with a hepatologist and get the AST/ ALT levels and a liver biopsy (if needed) done.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar