ALK PHOS - blood tests

Has anyone had any issues with ALK PHOS readings in their blood tests? I have had high readings for a long time, due to fatty infiltration in my liver. That was diagnosed years ago. My PCP has kept an eye on it....and it hasn't gone down and it hadn't gone up till now. You would think that after cutting out ALOT of fat from my diet...that this would go down, or at least stay the same. But it has gone up....so he has me seeing a liver specialist. Well I went for my first appt and it was with the PA. She right away expresses concern and wants me to do a liver biopsy. I had heard these are painful, not to mention risky. Anyway....I said I wasn't crazy about this test so she and another Dr agreed to repeat the blood tests and then schedule me with the liver " specialist ". That was done. Now a few days later after the blood tests, the PA calls and was really pushing for the liver biopsy. And I asked if she had consulted with the specialists and of course she hadn't. I asked her to and then get back with me. Has anyone had a biopsy? Or trouble with their liver? One of the Dr's did say that he thought he had read an article that after Bypass surgery the alk phos has gone up. any input would be greatly appreciated.

ok I have done some looking on here and I have seen alot of stuff come up about after WLS that some patients have this problem. But one thing that all the doctors have done first is a ultraspund and or CAT scan before they do a biopsy. Have you talked with your surgeons office about this possibly being something related to WLS? Also did you have problems or do you have problems with your thyroid? I read that this can have something to do with it also..Please let me know what you find out..

i have had the ALT and AST, i think, go up. my pcp did a second blood test, same results, i talked to my WLS surgeon, and he said it is pretty normal for us to have elevated numbers. if mine are still going up in 6 months, i will prob have an ultrasound and go from there, my liver is not swolen, so my pcp wasnt overly concerned, just wants to watch it. teri

Thanks for the replies... yes I have had CT Scan years ago...and just a month ago had an ultrasound which showed of couse the fatty infiltration of the liver. With reading what you both have said that the numbers can change with WLS.....I think I am going to wait.....unless again they say they think it is "something" to be concerned about. A possible disease or something. And Crystal....yes I do have thyroid issues. I have been on thyroid meds for over 20 yrs. When I had Cushings back in 2003 it made my thyroid go from under actove to over active....I never slet, was shaky all the time, constantly on the go..but never lost weight. Then when I had the bypass I had stopped taking the thyroid because I was feeling so good and didn't think I need it amymore.....well my thyroid went so low....it wsa totally inactive. So I started on meds again in April I think and now my thyroid is over active again and we keep lowering the dose. I am only taking 150 mcg's and it's still overactive. I am glad you brought that up. I will ask the liver specialist and my PCP. Maybe they haven't dealt with enough WLS patients to know this.  Thanks again...

I had high liver enzymes pre op for scar revision in May 07 and just recently.

We cut out acetaminophen and all tylenol products and :::

THE LEVELS WENT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are on any of this, mention this to your doctor as we did research online and found that the excessive amounts in my system from all my surgeries, ie., vicoden and tylenol 3 was the culprit.

Now I take tramadol, and the pain subsides fairly well, and the liver enzymes levels are much better.  still elevated but no reason for a biopsy.

Check into the tylenol factor online and show it to your doc.

Hope this helps.  It sure did ME!! Stacey W

OMG...I wonder if that is the issue. I had been taking alot of tylenol 3's for headaches and to help me sleep at night. I will definitely mention tomy Dr. Thank you for telling me. See thats why we ask questions!!!!

From this site: http://www.medicinenet.com/liver_blood_tests/page3.htm#6whatmedications

What medications cause abnormal aminotransferase levels? A host of medications can cause abnormal liver enzymes levels. Examples include:

• Pain relief medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), neproxen (Narosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), and phenybutazone (Butazolidine)
• Anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin), valproic acid, carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenobarbital
• Antibiotics such as the tetracyclines, sulfonamides, isoniazid (INH), sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin, etc.
• Cholesterol lowering drugs such as the "statins" (Mevacor, Pravachol, Lipitor, etc.) and niacin
• Cardiovascular drugs such as amiodarone (Cordarone), hydralazine, quinidine, etc.
• Anti-depressant drugs of the tricyclic type

With drug-induced liver enzyme abnormalities, the enzymes usually normalize weeks to months after stopping the medications.

I did research myself for many months trying to find the cause. This is the reason we determined (myself and my doctor, since I have been off the tylenol, my levels have gone down). Good luck!! Stacey W