Elevated Liver Enzymes

Elevated liver enzymes are a result of liver impairment such as inflammation or cell damage which in turn hinders the liver cells to perform properly. What happens is these liver cells, when they are injured, tend to leak amounts of certain chemicals (including liver enzymes) into the blood stream, which is abnormally higher than normal. This malfunctioning causes elevated liver enzymes, which is diagnosed through liver blood tests. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) are known to be the specific elevated liver enzymes which are most commonly diagnosed by doctors. Let's touch upon in greater detail regarding the reason as to why are liver enzymes high?

Elevated Liver Enzymes Causes
First of all let's have a look at the causes which are commonly responsible for elevated liver enzymes. Alcohol consumption has always been the most common reason of several illnesses in the human body. Here also it has been attributed as one of the elevated liver enzymes causes, apart from other causes which include autoimmune hepatitis, celiac disease (an auto-immune disease characterized by sensitivity of the lining of the small intestine to gluten, causing a failure to digest food properly), cirrhosis (a chronic disease interfering with the normal functioning of the liver; the major cause is chronic alcoholism) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.

Some other diseases such as diabetes, obesity, dermatomyositis, gallstones, liver cancer or other metabolic liver diseases, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), hemochromatosis, mononucleosis and Wilson's disease add to the causes of elevated liver enzymes.

Hepatitis A, B and C are considered to be among the diseases which are more common in causing this illness of elevated liver enzyme. Apart from muscular dystrophy, pancreatitis and polymyositis, medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen have been found to damage the function of the liver causing the condition of high liver enzymes. Antibiotics or anti-seizure medicines, in some cases are also some of the causes. More on liver function.

Elevated Liver Enzymes Symptoms
There aren't many symptoms that elevated liver enzymes is associated with, except itching and jaundice. Jaundice, in turn, may have other symptoms such as dark or cloudy urine, light stools and signs of cirrhosis or other liver diseases. Based on the symptoms, the doctor may conduct certain liver function tests in order to diagnose the current status of the disease. Liver function tests are normally the laboratory blood tests wherein, the level of liver enzymes are determined. The tests also include determining levels of albumin (ALB), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), direct bilirubin (DBIL), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) in the body. More on causes of elevated liver function tests.

Having had a brief overview about the various causes and symptoms of elevated liver enzymes, you must have got some ideas as to why are liver enzymes elevated? Now let's know about some important details on elevated liver enzymes treatment methods. Treatment of any disorder related with the human body is governed by its underlying cause, the person's age and overall health. Not to mention, the severity or the extent of the illness also plays a crucial role! So, likewise, the treatment of elevated liver enzymes is also dependent upon such factors. Basically, the treatment procedures widely varies from one case to another as the causes of this disorder has its roots in just more than one factor. For example, if obesity has been regarded to be the major cause for elevated liver enzymes, then different methods would have to be followed by the affected person in order to counter the effects of obesity and thus initiate a treatment for the high liver enzyme count.

To add to all these information, it may also be beneficial for you to know that this medical condition is not only found in humans but also in animals; dogs being the most common. Know about this by reading more on elevated liver enzymes in dogs.

So, this was about the different causes, symptoms and treatment of elevated liver enzymes. As there are not many types of symptoms of this disorder of the liver, it sometimes becomes difficult to diagnose the disease and thus this causes delay in the treatment. So it is important to keep a check on the various causes of elevated liver symptoms. Having a discussion with your doctor about the various treatment options available is advisable.