What Dangers Come With Elevated Liver Enzymes?

Elevated liver enzymes, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), are often evaluated in relation to liver health. Risk factors for elevated liver enzymes include alcohol use, certain medications, herbs, vitamin supplements, and diabetes. Symptoms of liver damage may include abdominal pain, dark urine, fatigue, itching, jaundice, light-colored stools, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Elevated liver enzymes often indicate inflamed or damaged liver cells, leaking higher levels of certain chemicals.

Diagnosis of hepatitis symptoms may include elevated liver enzymes, which are typically less than 40 UI/ml. Elevated enzymes can be associated with severe liver damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption or autoimmune hepatitis. This degree of enzyme elevation can be associated with ischemic/toxic damage to the liver, acute viral hepatitis, and increased risk of liver disease and cancer.

Research has linked high liver enzymes to an increased risk of liver disease and cancer. To reduce liver enzyme levels, it is essential to consult a doctor and consult with a healthcare professional if symptoms persist.

What happens when your enzymes are too high in your liver?

Elevated liver enzymes often are a sign of inflamed or damaged cells in the liver. Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher levels of certain chemicals into the bloodstream. These chemicals include liver enzymes that may appear higher than usual on blood tests.

Can your liver recover from high liver enzymes?

About one-third of people with elevated liver enzymes will have normal liver enzyme levels after two to four weeks. If your liver enzymes stay high, your provider may order more blood tests, or imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scan or MRI. They may also refer you to a liver specialist (hepatologist).

What does it mean to have elevated liver enzymes?. If you have high levels of liver enzymes in your blood, you have elevated liver enzymes. High liver enzyme levels may be temporary, or they may be a sign of a medical condition like hepatitis or liver disease. Certain medications can also cause elevated liver enzymes.

What are liver enzymes?. Liver enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in your body. These chemical reactions include producing bile and substances that help your blood clot, breaking down food and toxins, and fighting infection. Common liver enzymes include:

• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP).
• Alanine transaminase (ALT).
• Aspartate transaminase (AST).
• Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT).

Can you fix high enzymes in the liver?

How is it treated? Treatment depends on what is causing your liver enzymes to be elevated. If your doctor thinks you have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or the metabolic syndrome, you will need to watch your diet, stop drinking alcohol, lose weight, and control your cholesterol.

The liver releases several substances when it is injured. Two of these are enzymes called alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST).

There are many causes of mildly elevated ALT and AST levels. About three out of 10 people will have normal levels again if blood tests are repeated in two to four weeks. Medical conditions such as hepatitis (swelling of the liver), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the metabolic syndrome, and alcoholic liver disease are the more common causes. Certain medicines can also cause elevated liver enzymes.

People with mild elevations usually do not have any symptoms.

What is stage 1 liver failure?

Four stages of liver failure define the progression of the disease:

• Stage 1: Inflammation. Patients may not have any symptoms at this stage, but some people may have tenderness on the right side of their abdomen. Elevated liver enzymes can be a sign of liver inflammation.
• Stage 2: Fibrosis/scarring. Liver scars can form as a result of longstanding inflammation. The scarring can worsen over time if the cause of liver damage is not treated.
• Stage 3: Cirrhosis. In cirrhosis, scarring in the liver has become more extensive. Liver function may be normal at this stage, but close monitoring for complications such as liver failure and liver cancer are needed. Liver transplant evaluation may be discussed at this stage.
• Stage 4: End-stage liver failure. At this stage, the body is suffering from multiple conditions, including fluid in the abdomen, internal bleeding, impaired kidney function, and confusion due to the liver not effectively filtering the blood. Liver transplant evaluation should be performed at this stage.

The symptoms of liver failure are often similar to those of other conditions, making it difficult to diagnose. The symptoms can also be different depending on the type of liver failure.

The liver specialists at NewYork-Presbyterian are experts in treating the symptoms of all types and stages of liver failure.

How do I know if my liver is ok?

A panel of liver function tests can show signs of liver disease, liver disease severity and liver failure. These measure liver products like liver enzymes, proteins and bilirubin levels in your blood. Blood tests may also indicate inflammation, specific diseases or side effects, like reduced blood clotting.

What are the first signs and symptoms of liver disease?. Chronic liver disease often won’t cause symptoms in the early stages. But sometimes it begins with an episode of acute hepatitis. For example, if you get a viral hepatitis infection, there’s an acute phase before the chronic phase sets in. You might have a fever, stomachache or nausea for a brief period while your immune system works to defeat the infection. If it doesn’t defeat it, it becomes a chronic infection.

Some other causes of liver disease might also begin with more acute symptoms or have occasional episodes of acute symptoms. Early symptoms of liver disease tend to be vague. They might include:

• Upper abdominal pain.
• Nausea or loss of appetite.
• Fatigue and malaise (feeling generally tired and ill).

Is it life threatening to have high liver enzymes?

• Key Points about Elevated Liver Enzymes in Children. ALT and AST (liver enzymes or transaminases) are normally present in the body and in the blood.
• Elevated liver enzymes in children are often found during a routine blood test.
• Elevated liver enzymes are a warning sign of possible liver damage, irritation or inflammation.
• Elevated liver enzymes are usually due to common conditions that are easily treated or resolve on their own.
• Rarely, they may be due to a serious or even life-threatening disease.
• Liver enzyme levels alone are not enough to tell exactly what is wrong with the liver.
• More tests may be needed to find the reason for elevated liver enzymes.
• Sometimes, no cause for the elevated liver enzymes is found at all
• in those cases, the liver enzymes may return to normal on their own.
• Treatment options vary depending on the cause.

Next Steps. If you have been told your child has elevated liver enzymes, your best source of information is your child’s health care provider. He or she will work with you to give your child the best chance of recovery. Some things you can do to help include:

• Learn all you can about recommended treatments. Ask about the benefits and the downsides.
• Keep all follow-up appointments with your child’s health care provider.
• Ask if your child should see a liver disease specialist.
• Ask your child’s health care provider before trying any home remedies or over-the counter medications.
• If there is any concern about liver disease, we do not recommend any supplements or herbal drugs to “help the liver.” No such thing exists, and some products sold for that purpose can be dangerous and may actually harm the liver.

When to worry about liver enzymes?

When to seek help. Elevated liver enzymes are a symptom of many different conditions rather than a condition themselves. People should seek help if they exhibit symptoms of fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, or other conditions listed above.

Elevated liver enzymes may mean a person’s liver is not working properly. Common causes include fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. Managing these conditions will help treat high enzyme levels.

Doctors test people for elevated liver enzymes if they have symptoms of conditions that typically cause liver damage.

In this article, learn about the causes of elevated liver enzymes, as well as the symptoms and treatment of each of these conditions.

What should I avoid if I have high liver enzymes?

What to avoid: Don’t eat foods high in fat, sugar and salt. Stay away from a lot of fried foods including fast food restaurant meals. Raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters and clams are a definite no-no.

A Healthy Diet, a Healthier Liver, a Healthier You. So, what should you eat to ensure that your liver can function normally?

If you’re a liver patient, your diet is adjusted to meet your individual needs. Talk to your doctor about what’s best for you. Still, here are some general food tips for a healthy or healthier liver:

• What to avoid : Don’t eat foods high in fat, sugar and salt. Stay away from a lot of fried foods including fast food restaurant meals. Raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters and clams are a definite no-no.
• Talk to your doctor about alcohol and your liver health : Depending on the state of your liver, you should avoid alcohol. If you’re allowed alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman and two drinks a day if you’re a man.
• Eat a balanced diet : Select foods from all food groups: Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat and beans, milk, and oil.
• Eat food with fiber : Fiber helps your liver work at an optimal level. Fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, rice and cereals can take care of your body’s fiber needs.
• Drink lots of water : It prevents dehydration and it helps your liver to function better.

What is an alarming liver enzyme?

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are two liver enzymes measured in a blood test to check the health of your liver. High AST and ALT levels are a general sign of a liver problem.

Based on which enzyme is elevated—or if both are elevated—healthcare providers can make an educated guess as to the underlying cause of the liver problem and order additional tests. This may help diagnose diseases ranging from hepatitis and cirrhosis to liver cancer and liver failure.

When ALT and AST Levels Are Tested. ALT and AST are part of a comprehensive panel of tests known as a liver function test (LFT). An LFT may be ordered:

• If you have symptoms of liver disease, including jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dark urine, pale stools, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue
• To monitor the progression of a liver disease
• To determine when drug treatments should be started
• To check your response to treatment