Which Illnesses Can Result In Increased Liver Enzymes?

Elevated liver enzymes can be caused by various factors, including medication use, liver cancer, heavy alcohol use, infections, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), celiac disease, Wilson’s disease, and thyroid disorders. These enzymes can indicate inflammation or damage in the liver, which is crucial for treating liver issues.

Some common causes of elevated liver enzymes include nonprescription pain medicines like acetaminophen and prescription medicines like statins used to control cholesterol. Elevated liver enzymes may also indicate that the liver is stressed or damaged, but understanding the cause is key to determining the right course of action.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common causes of a high liver enzyme count, which can range in severity. Common causes include certain medications, fatty liver disease, hemochromatosis, hepatitis A, B, C, alcoholic hepatitis, and autoimmune hepatitis, thyroid disorders, toxic hepatitis, and Wilson’s disease.

Liver enzymes can also be a sign of inflamed or damaged cells in the liver, as they leak higher levels of certain chemicals into the bloodstream. Rare metabolic/genetic liver diseases, such as glycogen storage disease, porphyrias, tyrosinemia, and urea cycle, may also cause elevated liver enzymes.

People with severe hypertension, lupus, diabetes, and colon cancer are at an increased risk for developing liver disease and may require more treatment. Mildly elevated ALT and AST levels can be caused by various factors, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, Celiac disease, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

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

What can falsely elevate liver enzymes?

Liver diseases, medical conditions, medications and infections can cause elevated liver enzymes. Common causes for elevated liver enzymes include: Certain medications, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) and acetaminophen. Fatty liver disease, including alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related conditions.

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).

What is an alarming ALT level?

An ALT test result of >100 IU/l is a clear indicator of serious liver disease, but a mildly elevated ALT result (30–100 IU/l) is often ascribed to the use of medication (for example statins) or alcohol, obesity, or, for lower ALT levels (<50 IU/l), considered as part of the normal distribution of test results.

Background. Hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection can lead to serious complications if left untreated, but often remain undetected in primary care. Mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations (30–100 IU/l) are commonly found and could be associated with viral hepatitis; unfortunately, these findings frequently remain without follow-up.

Aim. To determine if and how mild ALT elevation can be used to identify hidden HCV and HBV infection in primary care.

Design and setting. Primary care patients referred for liver enzyme testing were selected by a large primary care Diagnostic Centre (Saltro).

What is the most common autoimmune liver disease?

Overview and Symptoms. Although a number of autoimmune conditions may involve the liver, the three most common autoimmune liver diseases are autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. These conditions may occur individually or as part of “overlap” syndromes.

• Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) can affect both children and adults and can lead to cirrhosis and acute liver failure. It is often asymptomatic, with no symptoms prior to liver failure. It may also be associated with nonspecific symptoms including fatigue, nausea, abdominal pains, or joint pains.
• Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) occurs when the biliary ducts within the liver are destroyed by the body’s own immune cells, impairing the liver’s ability to excrete bile. It affects women more often the men. It may be asymptomatic or may be associated with symptoms such as fatigue, itching, dry mouth, dry eyes, high cholesterol or bone disease. It may occur in association with other autoimmune conditions. If left untreated, PBC can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterized by inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts, which can prevent bile from passing through. Like other autoimmune liver diseases, it may be asymptomatic or may be associated with symptoms such as itching or jaundice. PSC can affect both children and adults and is frequently encountered in association with inflammatory bowel disease. Complications of PSC include liver, gallbladder and bile duct cancers, as well as biliary infections and cirrhosis.

Blood testing is often the first step to diagnosing autoimmune liver diseases because many patients do not show symptoms until the disease has progressed to cirrhosis or liver failure. Your doctor may request diagnostic imaging of your liver and may also perform a liver biopsy.

What autoimmune diseases cause elevated liver enzymes?

Overview and Symptoms. Although a number of autoimmune conditions may involve the liver, the three most common autoimmune liver diseases are autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. These conditions may occur individually or as part of “overlap” syndromes.

• Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) can affect both children and adults and can lead to cirrhosis and acute liver failure. It is often asymptomatic, with no symptoms prior to liver failure. It may also be associated with nonspecific symptoms including fatigue, nausea, abdominal pains, or joint pains.
• Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) occurs when the biliary ducts within the liver are destroyed by the body’s own immune cells, impairing the liver’s ability to excrete bile. It affects women more often the men. It may be asymptomatic or may be associated with symptoms such as fatigue, itching, dry mouth, dry eyes, high cholesterol or bone disease. It may occur in association with other autoimmune conditions. If left untreated, PBC can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterized by inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts, which can prevent bile from passing through. Like other autoimmune liver diseases, it may be asymptomatic or may be associated with symptoms such as itching or jaundice. PSC can affect both children and adults and is frequently encountered in association with inflammatory bowel disease. Complications of PSC include liver, gallbladder and bile duct cancers, as well as biliary infections and cirrhosis.

Blood testing is often the first step to diagnosing autoimmune liver diseases because many patients do not show symptoms until the disease has progressed to cirrhosis or liver failure. Your doctor may request diagnostic imaging of your liver and may also perform a liver biopsy.

What autoimmune disease causes elevated liver enzymes?

What is autoimmune hepatitis?. Autoimmune hepatitis is when your body’s infection-fighting system (immune system) attacks your liver cells. This causes redness and swelling (inflammation) and liver damage.

It is a long-term or chronic inflammatory liver disease.

There are 2 types of autoimmune hepatitis: type 1 (classic) or type 2.

May occur at any age, but usually starts when you are a teen or young adult.

Is often linked to other diseases where the body attacks itself (autoimmune disorders). These may include thyroiditis, Grave’s disease, type 1 diabetes, and ulcerative colitis.

Why is my ALT high but everything else normal?

High levels of ALT in your blood may be a sign of a liver injury or disease. Some types of liver disease cause high ALT levels before you have symptoms of the disease. So, an ALT blood test may help diagnose certain liver diseases early.

What is an ALT Blood Test?. An ALT test measures the amount of ALT in your blood. This test is commonly used to help diagnose liver damage or disease.

ALT (alanine transaminase) is an enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions in your body. It is found mainly in your liver. Usually, you will have low levels of ALT in your blood. But when liver cells are damaged, they release ALT into the bloodstream. High levels of ALT in your blood may be a sign of a liver injury or disease. Some types of liver disease cause high ALT levels even before you have symptoms of the disease. So, an ALT blood test may help diagnose certain liver diseases early, when they may be easier to treat.

An ALT test is usually ordered as part of a group of liver function tests.

Is your liver ok if your liver enzymes are normal?

Results of liver enzyme tests. Low level of liver enzymes in blood:. Usually, this means the liver is healthy. However, a patient may have normal liver enzymes levels but still have liver damage.

Higher than normal level of liver enzymes in blood:. This can mean the liver is unhealthy. Patients also can have higher than normal liver enzyme levels related to problems in other organs, such as their bile ducts.

Can illness elevated liver enzymes?

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This is probably the main reason for elevated liver enzymes in children in the U. S. today. Mild forms of this disease are very common
• the more serious form that over many years can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) and liver failure is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
• Certain medicines. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is another possibility. Medications that can affect the liver include those for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, such as atomoxetine
• antibiotics, such as erythromycin or minocycline
• anticonvulsants, such as valproic acid
• or products containing acetaminophen. Drug-induced liver injury is often mild, but sometimes it can be severe.
• Viral infections. Many viruses can temporarily increase liver enzyme levels. These include rhinovirus (common cold) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus that causes mononucleosis (“Mono”).

Rarely are elevated liver enzymes due to a serious or even life-threatening condition. Some of these less common causes include:

• Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)
• Hepatitis B and C
• Diseases of the bile ducts, such as biliary atresia, choledochal cyst, or bile duct blockage from a gallstone or from pancreatitis
• Diseases of other organs, such as celiac disease, a disorder of the intestine (gut)
• Genetic (inherited) conditions, such as alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (where a protein gets produced incorrectly and “gets stuck” in the liver), hemochromatosis (too much iron) or Wilson disease (too much copper)

Can you have elevated liver enzymes without liver damage?

Elevated liver enzymes might be found during routine blood testing. In most cases, liver enzymes are only mildly raised for a short time. This usually doesn’t signal a chronic, serious liver problem.