Slightly elevated liver test

[partlycloudy]

My GI ordered my usual blood work about 3 months ago and my liver tests came back slightly elevated. I had another test, still elevated. I've got one more test in 3 weeks. If they're still elevated he'll pursue it further.

I don't know exactly which part of the liver test is elevated (I honestly didn't take it that seriously until now that it's gone on for so long). I am neg for hep B and C. I don't drink but am one of those rare birds, an obese CD patient.

I was just wondering if anyone here has had anything like this. My understanding is CD can cause inflammation all over so this could be liver inflammation. ???

Edited to add I haven't seen my doc about this yet except the first time they came back elevated. Since elevated liver tests can be due to several benign and temporary causes he wanted me to have another couple of tests before the next step.

 

[katiesue1506]

Do you know exactly which parts of the tests were elevated? I had elevated ALT and ALP levels and I originally assumed it was due to me being on 250mg of Imuran, but my doc is pretty sure I have blocked or inflammed bile ducts. He said that it could also be cause by low bone density (I guess if you have this your body will start to leech something to somewhere (I'm not too technical on the matter because I had a bone density scan and I was fine in that department)) ANYWAYS... I'm supposed to go for an MRI of the bile ducts... but I don't know when that'll occur.

Basically if you've ever been on Prednisone for a longer period of time OR if you've been on Prednisone for a total of 6 months-year cumulatively, you need to get a bone density scan. I've been on Pred for a long part of my life... probably a year an a half cumulatively but I've always taken calcium with vitamin D. I think this is why my bone density levels were fine.

If that test yields fine results, then it could be a bile duct issue. I googled this one time and it seems Crohn's patients are much more likely to suffer from inflammed or blocked bile ducts.

This is just my experience... it could be that you just have some other issue. Hope I helped.

 

[Guest9283]

Tylers liver detox is a really good supplement when trying to recover healthy liver enzymes.

 

[littlemissh]

Depends on which ones are elevated, there are 3 main liver enzymes. Crohns tends to cause elevation in 2 of these, some crohn's medications causes rise in the same 2, if you are overweight then you can have fatty liver which can also cause rise in these enzymes.
There are loads of causes and it depends also on how elevated. Some 'normal' people have raised enzymes which mean nothing.
As sI said it depends which ones and how elevated.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

Depends on which ones are elevated, there are 3 main liver enzymes. Crohns tends to cause elevation in 2 of these, some crohn's medications causes rise in the same 2, if you are overweight then you can have fatty liver which can also cause rise in these enzymes.
There are loads of causes and it depends also on how elevated. Some 'normal' people have raised enzymes which mean nothing.
As sI said it depends which ones and how elevated.

Seconded.

My ALT is usually elevated, but the ALP is fine, so my doctor isn't particularly concerned.

 

[littlemissh]

My ggt and alt are raised but normal alk phos and bilirubin. Thought to be related to active crohns...hopefully soon to be inactive...

 

[partlycloudy]

I don't know which ones are elevated. I'll find that out the next time I have a test.

I am overweight. I'd forgotten that after the first test he had me have an ultrasound on my liver. That showed some fat deposits.

However, I've been overweight for about 15 years now and my blood work has always been fine. This elevated thing is new. I've not been on any new meds in two years and prenisine for only 2 weeks a year ago.

The thing that worries me is the CD inflammation markers were normal. That makes me think it may not be due to Crohn's or at least not active Crohn's. But I don't know. I'm fairly new to it all.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I didn't know that about the bone density.

 

[NicoleKS]

My liver enzymes were elevated at my last visit (due to the fatty tissue around the liver) and my GI encouraged me to work out more... Technically I am "obese" as well.

 

[partlycloudy]

Nicoleks, did he specify if the working out itself would help clear the fat around the liver or is it the weight loss aspect of working out he was referring to?

 

[NicoleKS]

Nicoleks, did he specify if the working out itself would help clear the fat around the liver or is it the weight loss aspect of working out he was referring to?

He always tells me my weight is "good" I guess since most Chronie's are underweight. Even though I have always been a little overweight my entire life. So he meant that exercise should help the liver enzyme issue.

 

[partlycloudy]

That's really interesting and something I can do, NicoleKS. Thanks a lot. I didn't know that about exercise itself.

 

[littlemissh]

The reason exercise will help is mostly through weight loss .When you lose weight you lose fat from all areas including the liver so that is why those with fatty liver are advised to exercise and follow a lower fat diet.

 

[bethyd78]

I know my liver function tests are not always ideal. I have a fatty liver as well
I read in one of my nursing books that Pentasa can cause some elevated liver enzymes. I found this interesting as we are prescribed these pills and my dr never really answers me with all the questions I ask. Recently he saw me with belly pain and d and he said he wanted a CAT scan of my abd and another colonoscopy. He stopped my abd exam about halfway and told me he felt a fullness on the right side of my abd. he never said what it is so I sit here and worry with my back and belly pain I have the colon on 1/10 so we'll see.I had just had a normal Cat scan in Nov bld work in Nov where nothing was elevated but a genetic marker for Inflammatory arthritis So I Wait
Bethy
Sorry I didn't mean to hijack your thread !

 

[partlycloudy]

No problem, Bethy. I hope you get some answers.

I've been on Pentasa for a couple of years now so was wondering if that's the problem. I hope if it is it doesn't mean I have to stop the Pentasa as I really like it (relative to the issue of CD and medications, that is, and the fact that it's hard to get those giant blue pills down!).