Arnold,
My test results also indicated elevated enzyme levels. My AST and ALT levels were out of range and I had an ultra sound test performed see if there were any liver abnormalities. The scan came back negative... no abnormalities were observed.
Hep. "C" can cause elevated liver enzymes. I tested reactive to a bloodtest to determine the presence of Hep."C". A "viral load" Hep. "C" bloodtest was done to see if the Hep. "C" virus was present/active.... it was not. It seems our bodies continue to produce antibodies to combat the Hep. "C" virus even after the virus itself is no longer active/present. The antibodies are what cause the reactive result... a more specific test is then performed to determine if the virus itself is present/active.
What then was causing the elevated enzyme results? The next diagnostic tool is a biopsy - now I'm friggin freakin
One more test of the AST and ALT enzymes was performed after I didn't work out for a few days. The results were now normal
Different labs use different reference ranges to determine whether the AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) results are within normal limits. The first lab used a reference range of 0 - 40. My initial results were 53 and 59 respectively.
My alkaline phosphatase, albumin and bilirubin test results were also normal. I'm not sure, exactly, what these last three things are. I assume they are used to determine liver dysfunction and that is why my doctor had my levels of them tested.
THE BOTTOM LINE: AST AND ALT ARE BY THEMSELVES NOT GOOD MARKERS OF LIVER DISEASE IN WEIGHT TRAINED ATHLETES.
Elevated AST and ALT values are merely flags to the reviewing physician that something
MAY be wrong.
My elevated enzymes were most probably caused by the trauma to the muscle I caused lifting in the gym.
