Liver enzymes are proteins the liver produces. The amount of these proteins in your blood is a good indication of your liver’s overall health. But elevated liver enzyme levels do not always mean serious liver damage or disease. Show Sometimes, factors such as hormonal changes or reactions to medications can cause temporarily elevated liver enzyme levels. Elevated levels caused by these factors will generally return to normal in about 2 to 4 weeks without treatment. Your liver makes proteins called liver enzymes that help your body perform necessary functions. For instance, liver enzymes help your body:
Your liver makes several liver enzymes, including:
These liver enzyme levels are a good indicator of how well your liver is functioning. A liver panel test checks liver enzyme levels in your blood. A healthcare professional might order this test as part of routine blood work, as a way to monitor you if you’re at risk for liver disease, or as a diagnostic test if you have symptoms of liver disease or liver damage. There are many reasons liver enzyme levels can change. Some causes are temporary and will resolve on their own. Other causes are more serious and will require medical treatment. Temporary causes of changes in liver enzyme levels include:
Causes of elevated liver enzyme levels that are more likely to be chronic include:
The exact threshold for what is considered an elevated level or a typical level depends on your age, gender, health goals, and the values used by the specific lab. You can see some standard thresholds below.
A liver function test might also measure:
These values are not enzymes, but they’re also important chemicals made by your liver. A liver function test is a standard blood draw. It can be done during a regular office visit. You don’t generally need any special preparation before a liver function test, although a doctor might ask you to fast for 12 to 24 hours before the blood draw. You can read more about liver function tests here. The treatment for elevated liver enzymes depends on the cause. In many cases, liver enzyme levels return to normal on their own within about a month. You might need to switch medications, stop taking a supplement, or cut back on drinking if you drink, but you will not need a treatment plan. In other cases, your doctor might need to treat the condition that’s raising your liver enzyme levels. They might order more tests, such as imaging tests, to get a better look at your liver or blood tests. They might also order a liver biopsy. Depending on your results, you might be referred to a specialist. Treatment will depend on your final diagnosis. If you’re concerned your liver enzyme levels might be elevated, you might consider making some lifestyle changes at home, such as:
Liver enzyme levels are an important indication of your liver’s health. When your enzyme levels are too high, it can be a symptom of liver damage or disease. Some causes of elevated liver levels, such as hormonal changes or certain medications, are temporary and might resolve without treatment. Other causes are more serious and can include conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis C, and liver cancer. Treatment for high liver enzyme levels depends on the cause. What does it mean if your liver function test is high?Higher-than-normal levels may indicate liver or bile duct damage. L-lactate dehydrogenase (LD). LD is an enzyme found in the liver. Elevated levels may indicate liver damage but can be elevated in many other disorders.
What causes your liver to be elevated?More common causes of elevated liver enzymes include: Over-the-counter pain medications, particularly acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) Certain prescription medications, including statin drugs used to control cholesterol. Drinking alcohol.
How do you treat elevated liver enzymes?How is it treated? Treatment depends on what is causing your liver enzymes to be elevated. If your doctor thinks you have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or the metabolic syndrome, you will need to watch your diet, stop drinking alcohol, lose weight, and control your cholesterol.
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