Hepatic enzymes are elevated: diagnosis, causes, symptoms, possible diseases and treatment

In the article, we will consider why liver enzymes may be elevated.

The liver is one of the largest glands in the body. She takes part in metabolic processes, purifying the blood from toxic and toxic effects, controlling a number of biochemical processes. Most of these changes occur with the participation of enzymes synthesized by the gland itself. Hepatic enzymes (the so-called enzymes) maintain constancy in the body by acting in a way that is invisible to humans. Against the background of the development of pathological conditions, the level of enzymes of this organ changes in a certain direction, which is considered an important sign and is used in differential diagnosis.

So what does it mean when liver enzymes are elevated?

The main reasons for increasing enzymes

An increase in the level of liver enzymes is insignificant; this phenomenon occurs due to the use of drugs or due to the accumulation of toxic components in the body. Similar can be observed with the development of diseases. Such enzymes can increase with prolonged therapy with painkillers, statins (medicines used to remove bad cholesterol) and sulfonamides, and, in addition, “Paracetamol”.

The provoking factor that liver enzymes are elevated may be the use of alcohol along with the abuse of fatty foods. This includes the continued use of herbal medicine (ephedra, Scutellaria and senna herbs). In the event that in the blood test for liver enzymes, the indicators are increased, then this very often signals the following pathological ailments:

• The presence of viral inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
• The development of cirrhosis and fatty liver hepatosis.
• The occurrence of a primary malignant tumor.
• The presence of secondary tumor processes with the formation of metastases.
• The appearance of pancreatic inflammation.
• The development of myocarditis of an infectious nature along with heart failure.

Now let's talk about the reasons why liver enzymes may be elevated in children.

Reasons for the increase in the child

Various factors influence the change in the parameters of liver enzymes in children:

• Excessive permeability of cell tissue.
• Children can get one type of hepatitis. In this situation, liver enzymes will increase.
• The development of congenital pathology in a child in the liver or bile.
• In the presence of different viruses in the children's body.
• This can happen due to a malfunction in the endocrine system.
• In the presence of pituitary diseases and against the background of blood pathologies.
• With heart pathologies, liver enzymes may be elevated in a child.
• The indicators of these enzymes are often affected by rheumatological diseases.
• The appearance of malignant tumors can contribute to an increase in the level of these enzymes in children as well.
• The operation transferred by the child.

How is the fact that the liver enzyme is elevated?

Symptoms

Symptoms with such a deviation may not have a visual manifestation. The following complaints from the patient are often noted:

• Decrease in working capacity along with constant fatigue.
• The occurrence of abdominal pain.
• The appearance of violations in the appetite.
• The occurrence of itching of the skin.
• The appearance of yellowness of the sclera and skin.
• The appearance of frequent bruising and nosebleeds.

Pregnancy rates

There are and very often elevated liver enzymes during pregnancy.

During the gestation period, a number of different changes occur in the female body. Organs and systems at this time begin to work for two, which may affect not only the condition, but also laboratory indicators. The level of enzymes considered during pregnancy reaches 31 units per liter.

In the event that toxicosis develops at the twenty-eighth week of bearing a child, then the numbers increase even more. The first two trimesters are accompanied in women by a slight excess of this indicator beyond the permissible limits, which is not considered a deviation, since the load on the liver at this time is maximum.

How high are liver enzymes in the blood?

GGT in pregnant women is up to 36 units per liter and can only slightly increase from the twelfth to twenty-seventh week of pregnancy, which is considered the absolute norm. The level of enzymes can greatly increase against the background of the inflammatory process of the liver, and, in addition, with pathologies of the biliary system and against the background of gestational diabetes.

A normal indicator of alkaline phosphatase is considered a value of 150 units per liter. Active growth of the fetus from the twentieth week until the time of birth causes an increase in the numbers of liver enzymes. The indicator of alkaline phosphatase can change due to the use of large doses of ascorbic acid, antibacterial agents, and, in addition, with a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus.

So do not worry if the liver enzyme is elevated during pregnancy.

Permissible indicators and norm

Valid indicators of liver enzymes are the following values:

• ALT up to 41 units per liter.
• AST up to 45 units per liter.
• GGT from 7 to 55 units per liter.
• Alkaline phosphatase from 30 to 130 units per liter.

Patient management

As part of the determination of elevated liver enzymes in the blood, the doctor prescribes a number of additional examinations in order to clarify the general condition of the patient. Immediately by a specialist, it is recommended that the patient begin therapy with adjustments to the diet.

The goal is to reduce the load on the liver, reduce the level of body fat in it, and, in addition, remove toxins and toxins. It is important to increase the amount of vegetables. Especially useful are spinach along with kale, greens, lettuce and dandelion. You should also increase the amount of consumed foods, which include antioxidants (for example, avocados with nuts).

The daily menu must necessarily contain at least 50 grams of dietary fiber, in particular fiber. These substances cleanse the body of harmful cholesterol, which contribute to the excellent normalization of the biliary system. Foods that are rich in fiber are fruits along with nuts, grains, berries, legumes and leafy green vegetables.

Treatment involves the receipt of the required amount of protein, since it is the protein components that are considered the necessary basis for the normal recovery of all damaged hepatocytes. How much it should be in the daily diet, the doctor will tell. But it’s important not to consume too much so as not to overload the liver system with protein processing. You should also drink enough clean water. Drink up to two liters of fluid daily. This should be done on an empty stomach, before eating, physical activities and after them, and, in addition, before evening rest.

Using herbs and supplements

Herbal medicine favorably affects the condition of the liver and allows to reduce the pathological indicator of enzymes. The treatment consists in using teas based on herbal ingredients. But it is important to consult a doctor about the possibility of such events. Astragalus along with dandelion and thistle are considered useful plant components. Turmeric should be added to food, which reduces the manifestation of inflammatory processes, and, in addition, garlic, which has an antitumor effect. By the permission of the doctor, dietary supplements that are rich in antioxidants can be used.

Possible diseases

Now consider what diseases are capable of loading the liver. Partly due to the fact that the liver performs a lot of important functions, it undergoes a variety of diseases. There are many pathologies that can increase the level of liver enzymes:

• The development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis which is also known as fatty hepatosis. With this pathology, fats in the form of triglycerides and cholesterol usually accumulate in the liver.
• Infection with hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis is caused by various reasons. But all its species equally intensively load the human liver.
• Various infections in the form of, for example, mononucleosis, adenoviruses and cytomegalovirus can also heavily load the liver. Bites of parasites and ticks can lead to dangerous diseases like American tick-borne rickettsiosis or toxoplasmosis.
• Liver cancer is often associated with previous viral pathologies and cirrhosis.
• The presence of alcoholic hepatitis and jaundice.
• The development of cirrhosis or the presence of late stages of various organ lesions.

Treatment

Given that an increase in the level of enzymes is a consequence of inflammation of the organ or its damage, the doctor first of all tries to find the causes of this condition, which must be eliminated. That is, therapy is not aimed at reducing the level of liver enzymes in the blood, but is aimed at eliminating the pathology that caused a similar reaction in the body.

Often with such pathologies, patients are recommended a diet that excludes all fatty, and, in addition, smoked, spicy and salty. They also exclude the use of alcohol, carbonated drinks, and coffee. You should eat plenty of organic food, and at the same time, dairy products.

In addition to drugs that treat this disease directly, various hepatoprotectors are also prescribed. Such drugs can repair already damaged liver cells and effectively protect them from subsequent damage. In addition, they can facilitate the work of this body, contributing to the implementation of some of its functions. But patients should not forget that any medications should be prescribed by a specialist. Examples are frequent when independent therapy and taking medications to cleanse the liver lead to opposite and dangerous consequences.

We examined what it means when the liver enzyme is elevated. The reasons for this deviation from the norm are described.