Liver enzymes high and climbing

I had HepB in 1982, and was hospitalized for a week. My doc said I was the sickest patient he ever had who survived. That made me VERY protective of my liver. Having HepB as bad as I did seems to predispose the liver to cancer later in life. I stopped drinking immediately.

Eight weeks ago, I started Optifast program at Kaiser. My ALT went from 14 to 39 to 106. Normal is less than 36.

Of course, I freaked out. Then my friend in the class, a 3 year ovarian/uterine/colo-rectal cancer survivor, asked me if I were worried about liver mets. I just stared at her! Of course I wasn't! But then it dawned on me that this is my new normal.....always wondering if some issue - test scores, pain, whatever - is related to my breast cancer somehow.

The doc ordered tons more bloodwork, and a few of the liver enzymes were a bit off.

I had an abdominal ultrasound, which showed all organs (liver, pancreas, etc) were completely clear (no masses, no shadows, etc) , except for possibly a low-level "echogenic" fatty liver.

However, I did show "sludge" in my gallbladder - a precursor to gallstones, which they warned us about before the program started.

My PCP told me the diet could be "transient trauma" to the liver. My MO said this was a common occurrence.

The Weight Management doc, who knew all about my HepB and my BC,  asked me tons of questions, and his main point was that he doesn't make a diagnosis solely on the basis of lab numbers. He also considers symptoms, of which I had none.

No upper-right quadrant abdominal pain, no nausea, no vomiting, no jaundice, no pee the color of root beer, no stools the color of chalk. So he really wasn't too concerned. He said we would just keep an eye on things and repeat labs frequently. But if I WERE to show any of the symptoms, to come in immediately.

I know my situation is different from yours, Kathleen, but I just wanted to let you know that I've had the anxiety about high liver enzymes.

Hoping that your numbers return to normal, and that this is just a temporary situation.

Wishing you the best....

I googled it, and apparently liver problems, while rare, could be a serious side effect of Arimidex...

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions with Arimidex occurring in less than 1 in 10,000 patients, are: 1) skin reactions such as lesions, ulcers, or blisters; 2) allergic reactions with swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat. This may cause difficulty in swallowing and/or breathing; and 3) changes in blood tests of the liver function, including inflammation of the liver with symptoms that may include a general feeling of not being well, with or without jaundice, liver pain or liver swelling [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

http://www.drugs.com/pro/arimidex.html

Kathleen, just wondering why Arimidex?  What about Tamoxifen?  Not sure if that would still have similar SE's but it's a thought.  Here's to a clean scan!!

Sharon

I just went to my MO today for the first post-treatment appointment, and my liver enzymes were ALT 77 and AST 70.  He is mildly concerned, and ordered another blood test in a month.  He did say that the more serious liver problems (cancer, hepatitis, etc) would have abnormal numbers in other categories, and all my other numbers were in the normal range. He didn't say anything about discontinuing the Arimidex, or even stopping it temporarily.  I suppose if the numbers rise again like yours did, he would say something different.   I'm still worried about it though until I hear that everything is normal again ---will that ever happen?  Good luck, Kathleen as you explore this problem.  It looks like I'm right behind you.

Oh, and my bone density test shows me having osteopenia.  Oh joy!  Just have to take calcium and vitamin D for that.