What is elevated liver enzymes? What are the causes of this disease? The following article will help you learn some of the most common causes of elevated liver enzymes, let’s find out now!
Elevated liver enzymes are one of the signs that health is having serious problems. And if not controlled, it can make the disease worse, even cause death from complications of the disease. So what is elevated liver enzymes and what causes this disease?
* What is elevated liver enzymes?
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Yeast is a chemical catalyst that helps speed up reactions in the body. There are four main types of liver enzymes: Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Gamma – glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). These liver enzymes are also known as liver enzymes.
Accordingly, when liver cells are damaged, the concentration of these catalytic enzymes will also increase. When they dissolve into the blood, they create a certain concentration of liver enzymes. If the concentration of this liver enzyme exceeds the standard limit, liver cells can be damaged.
Normally, the liver enzyme ALT in adults will be in the range of ALT less than 40U/L for men, ALT less than 37 U/L for women; and AST levels in both men and women should be less than 40U/L; GGT in men should be below 60U/L, in men should be in the range of 07-32UL. Meanwhile, the liver enzyme ALP in both men and women should be in the range of 30-115U/L.
The elevation of liver enzyme indexes above the standard threshold is also the most noticeable sign when you are having bad problems in your liver. If this condition is not controlled in time, it can cause complications into more dangerous diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis or liver cancer.
Some signs are easy to recognize in people with elevated liver enzymes such as loss of appetite, itchy skin, digestive disorders… In many cases, patients only know they have a high liver enzyme index when being tested to check for these symptoms. other disease.
The causes of elevated liver enzymes are few people expected
Diseases related to the liver are considered silent diseases because symptoms only appear when they have progressed to a severe stage. Elevated liver enzymes are no exception. So what causes this disease? Here are some of the most common causes of elevated liver enzymes:
1. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Fatty liver disease is one of the causes of elevated liver enzymes. This disease occurs not only in people who drink alcohol, but also in people who do not or rarely use alcohol.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can also lead to other diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, etc.
2. Alcoholic liver disease.
Alcoholic liver disease usually has 3 types including cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty liver. All three of these diseases cause adverse effects on the health of the liver, affecting the liver enzyme indexes of the patient.
3. High liver enzymes due to side effects of drugs.
One of the causes of elevated liver enzymes can be due to the side effects of using modern drugs for a long time. Although pain relievers or antibiotics can provide quick relief from unpleasant symptoms, they will leave a certain amount of toxins in the liver.
At some point, when the amount of this toxin is capable of spreading, it will adversely affect your liver.
4. Viral hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. This is also one of the main causes of elevated liver enzymes. The treatment of the disease at this time is only to help the patient relieve the symptoms, not to completely cure the disease.
5. The cause of high liver enzymes is autoimmune hepatitis.
Elevated liver enzymes can also be caused by autoimmune hepatitis, which includes two forms. The first form is caused by complications of other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, etc., which can occur at any age. The second form is more common in children or young adults.
6. Mononucleosis is a cause of elevated liver enzymes.
Mononucleosis is a common disease that occurs when a person is infected with the Epstein-Barr virus. One of the most common symptoms when a patient has this disease is elevated liver enzymes. To make the diagnosis easier, doctors will ask patients to take blood tests.
7. Iron disorder (Hemochromatosis).
Long-term absorption of too much iron can lead to hemochromatosis syndrome (also known as iron disorder). This syndrome is also one of the causes of high liver enzymes, especially two liver enzymes AST and ALT.
8. Elevated liver enzymes due to Wilson’s disease.
Wilson’s disease is a disease that occurs when the body has a disorder of copper metabolism. Not only does this condition cause liver enzymes to rise, but it can also lead to death. Not only that, the disorder of copper metabolism can also cause a number of complications such as cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure.
9. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin protein deficiency.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin is a protein that protects lung and liver cells. When the body is deficient in this protein, the air sacs in the lungs will burst and the liver will also be damaged. Meanwhile, liver damage is also the leading cause of elevated liver enzymes.
10. Cytomegalovirus infection.
Cytomegalovirus is a type of virus that usually attacks people with weak immune systems. It is worth mentioning here that they do not cause abnormal symptoms, so it is difficult for patients to know that you have an infection.
This type of virus can lead to diseases like hepatitis, causing elevated liver enzymes if they are not controlled.
Here are some unexpected causes of elevated liver enzymes. Hope to help you with more useful knowledge on this issue!