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What Do My Liver Function Test Results Indicate?
Question: Hello. I am a 28 year old male and was formerly a very heavy drinker for a few years, but have cut back rather substantially in recent years/months.
Back in November, I had blood work done, and came back with an AST of 91 and an ALT of 62. I am well aware than an ALT/AST inversion can be serious, so I stopped drinking for 6 weeks and had my blood retested. At that point, my AST was 24 and my ALT was 31.
All in all, I've read a lot of conflicting information and I wonder how concerned I should be. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Back in November, I had blood work done, and came back with an AST of 91 and an ALT of 62. I am well aware than an ALT/AST inversion can be serious, so I stopped drinking for 6 weeks and had my blood retested. At that point, my AST was 24 and my ALT was 31.
All in all, I've read a lot of conflicting information and I wonder how concerned I should be. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
No need to be concerned.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
AST and ALT are liver enzymes. This enzymes appear in the blood due to liver cells destruction. In normal condition, as some liver cells are being replaced to new ones, we have some low level of this enzymes.
Now when you drink an alcohol, ample of liver cells are being destroyed so the level of this enzymes gets high.
If something serious is happening with the liver, AST and ALT are in hundreds or thousands.
In your case, level 91 and 62 are only slightly above the referential ranges. And its really low. Even if there is inversion, still this means really nothing. Just that you should quit an alcohol.
And you did it, so the liver enzymes are now low. And just keep it that way. No need to be worried.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
No need to be concerned.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
AST and ALT are liver enzymes. This enzymes appear in the blood due to liver cells destruction. In normal condition, as some liver cells are being replaced to new ones, we have some low level of this enzymes.
Now when you drink an alcohol, ample of liver cells are being destroyed so the level of this enzymes gets high.
If something serious is happening with the liver, AST and ALT are in hundreds or thousands.
In your case, level 91 and 62 are only slightly above the referential ranges. And its really low. Even if there is inversion, still this means really nothing. Just that you should quit an alcohol.
And you did it, so the liver enzymes are now low. And just keep it that way. No need to be worried.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I've read that numbers into the thousands indicated something more than liver damage, and that an inversion with numbers above the range of 0-40 (AST) or 0-44 (ALT) can be serious, even if the numbers come down. Is that not the case?
Also, I am back to drinking 1-2 times per week, 1-2 drinks at a time. Is that no advisable?
Thank you.
Also, I am back to drinking 1-2 times per week, 1-2 drinks at a time. Is that no advisable?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Drinking in regular basis is not a good idea.
Detailed Answer:
Once again, in your case its nothing serious. Slight elevation, with or without inversion usually does not indicate anything serious. Its the normal image of liver injured by an alcohol. But this enzymes just give a little information about the liver condition.
If you want to see more about the liver, GGTP, AP, bilirubin level, liver ultrasound should be done for sure.
But yours enzymes are just fine now, so no reason to be concerned.
Regular drinking is the worst you can do for your liver. It would be better to drink heavily once a month, than small amounts few times a week.
Regards.
Drinking in regular basis is not a good idea.
Detailed Answer:
Once again, in your case its nothing serious. Slight elevation, with or without inversion usually does not indicate anything serious. Its the normal image of liver injured by an alcohol. But this enzymes just give a little information about the liver condition.
If you want to see more about the liver, GGTP, AP, bilirubin level, liver ultrasound should be done for sure.
But yours enzymes are just fine now, so no reason to be concerned.
Regular drinking is the worst you can do for your liver. It would be better to drink heavily once a month, than small amounts few times a week.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
No need to be concerned.
Detailed Answer:
This numbers are great. This just confirms, alcohol was the only reason of AST/ALT inversion and elevation. No need to be concerned.
No need to be concerned.
Detailed Answer:
This numbers are great. This just confirms, alcohol was the only reason of AST/ALT inversion and elevation. No need to be concerned.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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