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Flare up of AIH

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Posted 8/7/2012 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
 

I have been on healing well for a while since my husband has Prostate Cancer and I was diagnosed with AIH in 2008.  I have had two liver biopsy both showed mild scaring and was on Prednisone for 4 years,  the doctor at the Center for Liver Diease in Miami finally got me off the prednisone by introducing 6MP 50mg.  I have been fine for 2years with normal liver levels.  My heart doctor a few months ago increased my Pravastin from 20mg to 40 mg and added some additional blood pressure meds now my levels have increased and have been creeping up both are still under 100 but my heart doctor stop the statin medicine this week.  I feel I should stop everything but my Gastro doctor feel they are stable and staying around the same levels.  Has anyone had their levels return to normal without starting predisone again I am still taking 6MP 50 mg and Milk Thistle.  Orignally my AIH was induced by Lipitor and I was told it was a servere drug injury from this cholesterol medicine,  I do not want to go back on Prednisone sine it if possible.

MDJ

Posted 8/8/2012 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
MDI, I don't know much about AIH, so I will alert Dany to your post.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 8/8/2012 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
MDJ,

Since your levels were normal and it's likely the Pravastatin that caused the increase, and you are no longer taking it, I'd think your levels could come down on their own with just the 6-MP.  They didn't go over 100 so that's probably a good thing.  You can also discuss with your liver doc about increasing the 6-MP before trying pred to drop your LFTs.  How often are they checking your bloods?

You said "I feel I should stop everything"...what do you mean?  Are you talking about the other BP meds?  If your hepatologist is fine with those, then I would wait and see if your levels come back to normal with the statin out of your system.  Does your heart doctor confer with your GI doc?  I'm surprised they increased your statin in the first place.  Are you also on a low cholesterol diet to try to help your cholesterol that way?  I understand that sometimes gnetics is not in one's favor where cholesterol is concerned and meds ae needed to help lower it. smilewinkgrin    And high cholesterol is bad for your liver too...double edged sword! smhair    I hope your levels decrease on their own...I, and so many others, share your concern on going back on pred!

Posted 8/8/2012 7:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there

My AIH is stable just on mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept). But I have had experience of a med induced increase in LFTs. They increased earlier this year when I took paracetamol (acetaminophen) on my heps advice for pain relief. They did not increase much - to just about the 100 mark. When I stopped the acetaminophen they returned to normal within about 3 weeks. So I will avoid it in future!

I have also had experience of bigger 'normal' flare coming under control without adding pred. A few years ago my ALT was raised to about the 350 mark on a routine test. Bit of a communication blip between me and my hep meant I didn't get to call him about it for about 3 weeks. He said it wouldn't come down without adding pred but I wanted another blood test first. That showed the readings had come down to about 100 already without adding pred. So he agreed we could just monitor it and it came down to normal over the next 2-3 weeks.

Statins can increase LFTs and also rarely trigger AIH so like Dany I suspect the readings will come down of their own accord now you aren't taking it.

Ann
Posted 8/8/2012 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
 

Thank you for the advice and encouragement.  MY LFT's started going up about 2months ago they went up for two weeks then came down for one week without stopping meds, then went back up I have been having blood tests every two weeks.  I go next week for another test and it will be the first one off the statin.   I have a heart stent and my heart doc like to see my cholesterol low but mine is genetics my whole family have high BP and Cholesterol no one has a weight problem and eat healthy most of the time.  I also play tennis and excerise 6 days a week but it has no effect on my numbers.  However I agree maybe an increase in the 6 MP would help I will talk to my doctor.  Yes both my doctors talk to each other and try to treat both my conditions carefully,

However, my hep doc feels my heart could be more or a problem if not treated then my liver. 

MDJ

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