elevated ALT?

midoubi

Dear sisters,

I am 1 year out of chemo, 1 year and 8 months after dx. Currently taking Tamoxifen.

I went to my every-4-month check-up with my Oncologist this Tuesday. This morning she called me and told me my blood lab showed ALT was a bit high (50). It was a bit high in April when I saw her last time too. She thinks it might be Tamoxifen, or fatty liver. But she want to be safe so she ordered a CAT scan for me next Thursday.

I did some google but still can't understand what exactly elevated ALT is. I know it has somehting to do with liver function, could be an indicator of liver damage, etc.

Could it be my diet? Eating too fatly and lack of excercise? Could it be the fish oil I am taking for lowering cholesterol? Could it be the left-over from chemo? Could it be that I have had hepatitis B long time ago? (alredy cured not a carrier) Could it be that I am already in chemopause? (I am 34 right now)

I am not really worried but just a bit anxious....anyone has similar experiences?

Hugs,
sylvia

BlindedByScience

There is a really nice write up on liver tests on this page:

http://www.liverdoctor.com/index.php?page=liver-tests

and specifically for ALT:

ALT - (alanine aminotransferase) - was previously called SGPT is more specific for liver damage. The ALT is an enzyme that is produced in the liver cells (hepatocytes) therefore it is more specific for liver disease than some of the other enzymes . It is generally increased in situations where there is damage to the liver cell membranes. All types of liver inflammation can cause raised ALT. Liver inflammation can be caused by fatty infiltration (see fatty liver) some drugs/medications, alcohol, liver and bile duct disease.

LizM

I also had a problem with both my AST and ALT being mildly elevated in Jan 07 which I found out about when I had preop bloodwork for my implant exchange surgery. I contacted my oncologist who told me to just have them retested. I went off Advil and took milk thistle seeds for a couple of months and had them retested in Apr 07. This time my AST was normal and my ALT was only elevated 3 pts at 43. When I went to my six month follow up in Jul my oncologist looked at all my bloodwork and said it was nothing. It is my understanding that chemo and hormone therapy can be hard on the liver. I remember being very nervous about my elevated LFTs and many women on these boards told me they had the same problem which turned out to be nothing.

ilovejesus

Hi Sylvia. Hasn't happened to me but to a co-worker who is a bc survivor. Hers turned out to be related to very mild diabetes. She's absolutely fine! Think positive!
God bless.

Naniam

June of last year my ALT and one other were pretty elevated. I do have a fatty liver - maybe thanks to years of hormone replacement therapy - but mine turned out to be from my gallbladder. I was having considerable GI problems at the time. Mine have been OK since and I did have my gallbladder removed in Oct. 2006.

Brenda

midoubi

Quote:

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Hi, Sylvia. It's good to see you post! I had this exact same thing happen to me in March '06. I remember getting a copy of my blood work and seeing my ALT at 68 and my onc had written "insignificant" next to it. Since he wasn't concerned I wasn't either. Three months later I went in and it was back to it's usual place in the 20's. My PCP told me that many things can cause an elevation since everything gets filtered through our liver. Try not to worry. This really is pretty common and most docs don't feel it's a problem unless the number is VERY elevated which yours isn't. Let us know how you are doing. Take care.

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{{{{{{{{{{{{{Sherri}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
I miss you so much!!!

midoubi

Thanks my dear sisters!!!

I will let you know what's going on after my CAT scan on Thursday.

I love you all.