What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Posted on Fri, 5 Feb 2016

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

Fri, 5 Feb 2016 Answered on

Tue, 5 Apr 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi,

I recently had labs take and they came back with AST at 57 and ALT at 64. Is there reason to be concerned?
My Doctor said most would probably have me come back in to retake labs in a month or so. Is cirrhosis possible?
Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow...

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking on HCM!

Your liver transaminases are mild elevated. There is nothing to be worried till now.

I need more of your medical data like:
- have you used alcohol?
- are you overweight ?
You have done abdominal ultrasound , please can you upload it to me, so I can check it by myself.
At this situation I would suggest to stop using alcohol and repeat the exams after 6-8 weeks stopping alcohol.
Please perform HbsAg and anti-HCV to rule out hepatitis.
With regards to cirrhosis , your finding are not suggesting it if abdominal ultrasound is normal.
Hope it was helpful to you.
Dr.Klerida

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (14 minutes later)

I have not taken ultrasound yet.

I do drink alcohol amd am a little over weight.

Are you saying that my values are mildly elevated amd there is nothing to be worry about?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Stop alcohol use

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Since you are using alcohol than your mildly elevated liver panel is due to it.
This I why I suggest to stop alcohol use and repeat the tests after 6-8 weeks after quiting alcohol.
Meantime please perform abdominal ultrasound.
The level of your Ast and Alt are not too high , so please don't worry, just ju it alcohol use.
Dr.Klerida

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (7 hours later)

Thanks you very much for your answers. Last question. I was curious about the AST to ALT ratio. Ive read that when AST is lower than ALT, which mine is, it could be a sign of liver damage caused alcohol. Also it is my understanding that the AST to ALT needs to be at a certain number. Question is if the ratio is not where it should be, does it even matter if my enzyme numbers are not significantly high?
Lastly, i took the labs a week ago yesterday, amd received the results this past Monday. Not thinking anything was wrong i had drinks Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So my concern is that my numbers could have gone up evem more in that time bedore i received the results, do you see that as an issue??

Side note, i havent had or wanted a sip of alcohol since getting the results last Monday.

Thank you so much, just nervous about this whole thing .

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow.....

Detailed Answer:
Hi back

First of all your AST level is not high. In clinical practice AST is mildly elevated when it is more than 2 times higher than normal range (10-45 UI/L).At your case it is only 57 UI/L.
This is why at your case in not calculated AST to ALT ratio.
With regards to ALT it is mildly elevated since in most laboratory the upper limit of normal range is 30UI/l. With regards to the fact that you have use alcohol on Friday and than you have done the exams on Saturday , yes it may indicate on laboratory exams.

Please perform the exams after 6-8 weeks without alcohol.
Hope it was helpful to you.
Dr.Klerida

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