Considering having my son stop Imuran!

[emmac13]

My sons ALT and AST levels have continued to rise since the first 6-8 weeks on the med. The hep test in the beginning was neg. Now with continued high levels an ANA was ran and high. The GI mention autoimmune hepatitis and a liver biopsy. My son also never had acne but since the med has had it out of control. In all my research others GI had them stop med within 3 consecutive high results. I am frustrated by the GI mentioning a liver biopsy but not finding an alterative option for Crohn's treatment.:ybatty: Thoughts? Anybody have similar issues? What was the solution? Thanks

 

[my little penguin]

Ds had high liver enzymes while on 6-mp
Gi lowered the dose drastically and added allopurinol.
This did ok
But could get the 6-mp back up to therapuetic levels without raising his ast/alt again
So Ds was switched to Mtx.
That wasn't strong enough so after two months
Ds switched to remicade .good luck

 

[emmac13]

Thanks. This just seems to me that it is drug induce autoimmune hepatitis. The last thing I want is to have add a drug to treat his liver because of a drug treating the crohns.

 

[emmac13]

We have a follow up tomorrow with GI to discuss liver biopsy. She feels it is most definitely auto hepatitis because of the high ANA. She tested for other Hepatitis, Wilsons, Lupus, and Celiac. All were neg. The metabolites test says that we should be able to increase dose of Imuran. But his AST and ALT levels are high. These levels were fine before taking this medication. I hope the GI considers a different medication before adding more to the list. Very frustrated.

 

[my little penguin]

Ds metabolites test was also normal range so he should have been fine
Since the biopsy will take a bit to schedule I would ask the doc to see if you could stop the drug and see
Also can you get a second opinOn ???
Anytime surgery is involved I would want one

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

My son reacted to Imuran almost immediately. He had sky-high fevers and elevated liver numbers. Like MLP's son, he was switched to MTX. Fortunately, it is doing what it is supposed to (so far). I hope you get some satisfying answers soon.

 

[emmac13]

We had bloods done yesterday. We got results back today. ALT and AST lowered back to normal ranges. It is exactly 8 weeks since his dose was lowered. Wonder if it took that long for it to drop in his body. We see the GI later today.

 

[emmac13]

GI said it was a dosage issue with the medication. She said it most likely take this long for the medication level to drop in his body. She said we will continue to monitor it with frequent labs. She hopes that it continues a downward trend. If it goes back up he will have a liver biopsy and switch meds. So it was a good day. Just hoping and praying the AST and ALT stay normal. His Crohn's has been non existent with this medication. It was just hard on the liver.