New Diagnosis Hep B Chronic- very high ALT-any experience/reassurance?

Hi,
my husband was diagnosed a couple weeks ago with chronic Hep b; I have been lurking on boards and performing all sorts of google searches trying to find all the info I can. What is really concerning me is that his ALT started at 2300 in mid-Feb, and he was immediately placed on Baraclude; however, his labs last week had his ALT at 4000! The viral load dropped significantly in his first week, but in all my searches, I can't find anyone posting about such high ALT's, which worries me. How high can it possibly get? I know it's an indicator of liver cell death; how rapidly can the liver heal itself now that the viral dna is almost gone?

Clinically he's looking awesome- he is not really too fatigued, isn't complaining of anything, and no evidence of hepatic encephalopathy. The doc said he was surprised to see him looking so good in the context of those high alt levels.

little more info- he's in mid 30's, and it seems most likely he was infected at birth by his mother, or very early in childhood. although we haven't told her yet so we don't know her hep b status. So his liver has been suffering for many years before getting the diagnosis.

so, I would love to hear from anyone with reassuring words that they may have experienced very high alt's and survived...? or any links to more info.



thanks

thanks Connie,

His alk phos is mildly high at 150, bili had climbed to 10. ast was in the 1000's. The hepatologist seems to think that the alt should be trending down soon. I think I am still adjusting to the news and am probably worrying about the worst case scenarios; I am anxiously awaiting the most recent lab results that hopefully will be trending down. I know we have a long road ahead and I need to live more in the moment with what we know rather than obsess about the unknown, but it's challenging. Thanks for the support.