HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

elevated liver enzymes

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/7/2012 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
My son finished predisone about a month ago.  He is on 4 mezavant daily.  The UC symptoms seem to be under control.  His liver enzymes have been high with the latest test being 176 ALT and 49 AST.  The GI wants a liver biopsy.  Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

Posted 12/7/2012 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
has he had a liver ultrasound or MRCP done? these tests should be done FIRST before ever having a biopsy. i have heard that liver biopsies should only be done if absolutely necessary because only a small portion of the liver is biopsied and that can't show problems with the whole liver. he could have one part of the liver biopsied and it's normal but the other half could be a mess.
Posted 12/7/2012 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
The GI said they do the liver biopsy with an ultrasound.  The only risk was infection, which is a low risk and bleeding.  He also said the liver can decline very fast so it's better to have a diagnoses sooner than later.  ALT was high in June before he started any meds, than a bit lower while he was on prednisone in Oct. and now higher then ever.  So he does not think it is related to the mezavant.  But perhaps the prednisone had lowered it a bit.
Posted 12/7/2012 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
does your GI suspect PSC- primarcy schlerosing cholangitis? good that he is getting the ultrasound done.
Posted 12/7/2012 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
He never said anything about that. What is it? Do iron infusions increase liver enzymes. And thank you for your response.
Posted 12/7/2012 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
That is higher than I have ever been.

I have a history and I know what is whacko, assuming you had this checked before going on the drug how much net change are we talking about here ?
Posted 12/7/2012 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
OMG...I'd never have a liver biopsy unless it was life or death.

Ask your doctor what he suspects. Say you refuse for your son to have anything invasive until he's had both ultrasound AND MRCP.

As well...what other liver panel blood testing has been done?


q
Posted 12/7/2012 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
In June ALT was 96

He's had blood test for hepatis b and c. Both negative.
Posted 12/7/2012 9:55 PM (GMT 0)

momofkd said...
In June ALT was 96

He's had blood test for hepatis b and c. Both negative.

Knowing that and the following I would blame the med.

Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Nausea.
Excess gas in the stomach and intestines (flatulence).
Headache.
Abdominal pain.
Diarrhoea and vomiting.
Dizziness.
Allergic skin rashes.
Worsening of colitis symptoms.
Pain in the muscles or joints.
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
Kidney problems.
Decreases in the normal numbers of blood cells in the blood.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/digestive-health/medicines/mezavant-xl.html
Posted 12/7/2012 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all the info.  I am definately going to look into an MRI first.  It's hard to think at the drs office.  They are always in such a rush.  He barely remembers why he called you back to his office. 
Posted 12/8/2012 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
I would say the mezavant as well - that's a high dose and as mentioned above, it's a listed side effect even though most GIs don't believe it is (ours included). It would be nice if they'd read the package once in a while.
My daughter had very high enzymes on imuran and had to stop. It was very stressful. i hope it's nothing.
Posted 12/8/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Quincy - why would you never have a liver biopsy (unless life or death)? Does taking the biopsy itself cause a problem, or because it's painful, or...?
Posted 12/9/2012 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Killcoltis have you been in touch with ucdad1? Are you from Canada? How is your daughter?
Posted 12/9/2012 7:52 AM (GMT 0)
Fishing expeditions prove nothing without all the other testing that's not intrusive. There are serious side effects such as infection....which proves nothing in the long run if it's "inconclusive".

I also have a friend whose sister is an emergency nurse....she sees lots of patients with serious infection/problems after MRCP and MRI.

Ask the doctor what is suspected. If nothing in the blood tests lead to a possibility, have other blood tests, Ultrasound, MRCP.....anything and everything before invasive testing.

q
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply