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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Chest Pain. AST, ALT Levels Are High. Is It Due To Alcohol?

A friend of mine AST/ALT levels are high. ast 47 and alt 49. His physician retired in March and he just received his blood work results. at the bottom of the report it told him to stop all alcohol use. He has not seen a new physician nor has he had any other testing done. Would alcohol use cause this elevation? He now is having generalized pain in the right upper quadrant. Should he be seen soon? What kind of physician?
Fri, 5 Jul 2013
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He must see a general physician if he has chest pain. Not only the liver, cardiac conditions can also cause right upper quadrant pain. The AST/ ALT values appear normal or only slightly high, but in alcohol users the values do not reflect the liver condition reliably.
It is best to stop alcohol use. But if he is using alcohol regularly (more than 180 ml of hard liquor per day), it is good to consult a psychiatrist who will give medications for safe detoxification. Without medication for detoxification, alcohol withdrawals can be complicated in those who are addicted to it.
The signs of addiction to alcohol are the appearance of withdrawal symptoms on stopping alcohol use. Withdrawal symptoms are: tremors, sleep disturbance, irritability or anxiety, sweating; and in severe cases seizures/ fits/ convulsions or even delirium (talking irrelevantly and talking about imaginary people/ objects). If he has had withdrawal symptoms in the past, it is a must to seek detoxification from a psychiatrist.
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Chest Pain. AST, ALT Levels Are High. Is It Due To Alcohol?

He must see a general physician if he has chest pain. Not only the liver, cardiac conditions can also cause right upper quadrant pain. The AST/ ALT values appear normal or only slightly high, but in alcohol users the values do not reflect the liver condition reliably. It is best to stop alcohol use. But if he is using alcohol regularly (more than 180 ml of hard liquor per day), it is good to consult a psychiatrist who will give medications for safe detoxification. Without medication for detoxification, alcohol withdrawals can be complicated in those who are addicted to it. The signs of addiction to alcohol are the appearance of withdrawal symptoms on stopping alcohol use. Withdrawal symptoms are: tremors, sleep disturbance, irritability or anxiety, sweating; and in severe cases seizures/ fits/ convulsions or even delirium (talking irrelevantly and talking about imaginary people/ objects). If he has had withdrawal symptoms in the past, it is a must to seek detoxification from a psychiatrist.