What do normal enzymes mean?

[Guest guest]

Hello all!

I was diagnosed with psc about a year ago,(I'm 24 now...)and until

about 3 months ago my liver enzymes were extremely high. I had

negative side effects with Ursoforte so I stopped taking it and started

taking Actigall about 3 months ago. My blood work results came back

last week and my numbers have dropped significantly. My GGT used to

be 459 and is now 45! So, what does this mean exactly? I was

extremely excited upon hearing the news, but still don't really know

how this changes anything. I have had very few side effect from the

disease itself even when the levels were at their highest(extreme

fatigue sometimes and one case of bad chills and fever). Strangely

enough, Monday and Tuesday of this week I have been so exhausted I've

almost called out sick from work.. My friend and I took a walk Monday

night and I had to stop to take a rest on the pavement during the

middle of it! I'm usually very active so this scared me. I thought

perhaps with the good news, things like this might stop. Any

information would be greatly appreciated-thank you!

[Guest guest]

It will be interesting to me to see what the group has to say. My

last blood work my liver function was lowest yet, but the items that

count toward the MELD where higher and I moved a few points up the

MELD scale! So I was disappointed. But I am stage 4, so I guess it

is to be somewhat expected.

PSC 5/07 Listed

>

> Hello all!

>

> I was diagnosed with psc about a year ago,(I'm 24 now...)and until

> about 3 months ago my liver enzymes were extremely high. I had

> negative side effects with Ursoforte so I stopped taking it and

started

> taking Actigall about 3 months ago. My blood work results came

back

> last week and my numbers have dropped significantly. My GGT used

to

> be 459 and is now 45! So, what does this mean exactly? I was

> extremely excited upon hearing the news, but still don't really

know

> how this changes anything. I have had very few side effect from the

> disease itself even when the levels were at their highest(extreme

> fatigue sometimes and one case of bad chills and fever). Strangely

> enough, Monday and Tuesday of this week I have been so exhausted

I've

> almost called out sick from work.. My friend and I took a walk

Monday

> night and I had to stop to take a rest on the pavement during the

> middle of it! I'm usually very active so this scared me. I thought

> perhaps with the good news, things like this might stop. Any

> information would be greatly appreciated-thank you!

>

[Guest guest]

>

> what things count against the MELD scale?

MELD score increases with increased bilirubin, creatinine and INR (a

measure of blood clotting ability).

Liver enzymes (LFTs), Alk Phos, AST, ALT & GGT, are released when

liver cells are damaged and die. Lower LFTs are an indication that

there are fewer cells dying and therefore less damage to the liver.

Because the liver has wonderful regenerative capacity early in PSC as

cells die and fibrosis and scar tissue forms in their place, more

cells form to replace them. This works well until damaged bile ducts

can no longer provide drainage to the regenerated areas and backed up

bile quickly damages them too. Ursodiol seems to help by making bile

less toxic and less viscous (easier to flow). One recent study

concluded that it improves the projected survival time, especially at

high doses (30mg/kg/day).

Tim R