Questioni had a blood test and my dr said my liver enzymes were high it was 61 is that real high.she has ordered a liver and gallblater ultrasound..is this a high reading and can it be treated and is it deadly .
thanks
AnswerHello David,
The most important issue regarding liver enzymes is that they are not a measure of liver function, but rather of hepatocyte (liver cell) breakdown.
That means that, at the time the blood was drawn, that you had a mildly elevated rate of liver cell breakdown. The enzymes inside liver cells spill out when the cell breaks apart and are then detectable in the blood.
The normal range for is up to 40, and 56 for ALT. SO either way I'm not that excited about a 61.
By far, the most common cause of mild elevation is alcohol consumption. Other causes include diabetes and various medications. Only a liver biopsy can offer the definative answer as to cause, and even then it can be elusive.
Without other symptoms, and such a mild elevation, you are not a candidiate for biopsy.
Hopefully this is reassuring to you. The chances of a life threatening liver issue, or even a viral hepatitis are very unlikely in your case.
Best of luck.
DrT
