Guest guest Posted August 6, 2010 Report Share Posted August 6, 2010 HI Alyssa, I take digestive enzymes and have never had abnormal liver enzymes. Take care, June > > Since I'm getting a colonoscopy on Tuesday and Duke is really bad > about keeping track of all my bloodwork, I just went in today to get > some STAT labs done. Well, apparently my liver enzymes are over 500, > and the normal range is 0-40. It said 'alert' on the printout. > Anyways, I'm guessing it's the azatioprine, but I've also been taking > a lot of digestive enzymes recently. Has anyone had any liver enzyme > elevations related to digestive enzymes? Or azathioprine? I'd like to > know for sure which it is... > Thanks! > > Cheers! > Alyssa 16 yo > UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008 > SCD June 2009 (restarted) > Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per day > Prednisone 12.5 mg 1x per day (trying to wean!!!!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2010 Report Share Posted August 6, 2010 Liver enzymes aren't really related to digestive ones; I believe liver enzyme levels in the blood are used to detect problems in liver function. Azathioprine can cause liver toxicity; its one of the listed side effects. It may just be because of the UC too, according to this article: http://www.medicinenet.com/liver_blood_tests/page4.htm#7whatare fi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2010 Report Share Posted August 6, 2010 Hi there Alyssa, First of all, you should be getting a copy of all your lab work if at all possible so that you have a complete picture at home, even if they do not. That way you have it available if you need to see a new doctor or go to the ER stat! Secondly, do you know if they tested your liver functions before you started the Aza? They should have, and they should also be testing them every 2 weeks to a month as they try to get you settled on a dose that's right for you. Lastly, how long have you been on the Aza? I was on Remicade and TPN after a 3 week stint in the hospital for a fistula, and after 3 months of those drugs my liver enzymes jumped into the 500s. A liver ultrasound was all clear so they did a liver biopsy. Results showed autoimmune hepatitis (but they couldn't definitively rule out that it was drug-induced). I've been trying to wean off the Prednisone for the AIH ever since (1.5 years ago). So, please be careful with the Azathioprine because it can be really super toxic to the liver for some people. If you want more info, please feel free to email me off list. This stuff struck me as a teenager, too, so I can understand where you're coming from... Caroline UC--->Crohns since 1999 Remicade since 2008 SCD since 1/7/10 > > Since I'm getting a colonoscopy on Tuesday and Duke is really bad > about keeping track of all my bloodwork, I just went in today to get > some STAT labs done. Well, apparently my liver enzymes are over 500, > and the normal range is 0-40. It said 'alert' on the printout. > Anyways, I'm guessing it's the azatioprine, but I've also been taking > a lot of digestive enzymes recently. Has anyone had any liver enzyme > elevations related to digestive enzymes? Or azathioprine? I'd like to > know for sure which it is... > Thanks! > > Cheers! > Alyssa 16 yo > UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008 > SCD June 2009 (restarted) > Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per day > Prednisone 12.5 mg 1x per day (trying to wean!!!!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2010 Report Share Posted August 7, 2010 My liver enzymes have been up and down for at least a decade. I suspect it all started because of taking 6MP. I've also been on a lot of other immune suppressors since then, so that didn't help either. My last flare up was in March, which was 3 months after starting LDN. I had every liver blood test known to man, and they all came out okay. I had the ultrasound (I've had liver ultrasounds before this as well), and it was fine. Last week I had my latest blood tests for liver enzymes. If it comes back high, my GI wants to do a biopsy. Sounds like we're in the same boat Alyssa :-(. Holly Crohn's SCD 12/01/08 > > > First of all, you should be getting a copy of all your lab work if > > at all possible so that you have a complete picture at home, even if > > they do not. > > Yep, we got a copy via our schmancy new fax machine > > > That way you have it available if you need to see a new doctor or go > > to the ER stat! > > Secondly, do you know if they tested your liver functions before you > > started the Aza? They should have, and they should also be testing > > them every 2 weeks to a month as they try to get you settled on a > > dose that's right for you. > > I think they did, that's why the doctor was surprised they shot up > this fast. > > > Lastly, how long have you been on the Aza? > > Four or five months. > > > I was on Remicade and TPN after a 3 week stint in the hospital for a > > fistula, and after 3 months of those drugs my liver enzymes jumped > > into the 500s. A liver ultrasound was all clear so they did a liver > > biopsy. Results showed autoimmune hepatitis (but they couldn't > > definitively rule out that it was drug-induced). > > Oh, gosh, that's scary to read. I'm getting a liver ultrasound on > Tuesday if I can't get my colonoscopy. And a liver biopsy sounds > awful! I don't even know how they would do that! > > > I've been trying to wean off the Prednisone for the AIH ever since > > (1.5 years ago). So, please be careful with the Azathioprine because > > it can be really super toxic to the liver for some people. > > Well, I stopped immediately as soon as we got the labs, though > unfortunately I'd already taken my dose for the day. Thanks for your > help Caroline! > > Cheers! > Alyssa 16 yo > UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008 > SCD June 2009 (restarted) > Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per day > Prednisone 12.5 mg 1x per day (trying to wean!!!!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2010 Report Share Posted August 7, 2010 Sounds like we're in the same boat Alyssa :-(.Yikes, do you think the LDN caused your liver enzymes to be elevated? Cheers!Alyssa 16 yo UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per dayPrednisone 12.5 mg 1x per day (trying to wean!!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 7, 2010 Report Share Posted August 7, 2010 It is listed as a possible side effect with full dose naltrexone, but less likely with LDN from what I have read. PJ > > > Sounds like we're in the same boat Alyssa :-(. > > > Yikes, do you think the LDN caused your liver enzymes to be elevated? > > Cheers! > Alyssa 16 yo > UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008 > SCD June 2009 (restarted) > Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per day > Prednisone 12.5 mg 1x per day (trying to wean!!!!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2010 Report Share Posted August 8, 2010 I don't know :-(. I hope not, but it's certainly a possibility. Hopefully my numbers will be good this time. Or maybe I need to take up your liver care program :-). Holly Crohn's SCD 12/01/08 > > > Sounds like we're in the same boat Alyssa :-(. > > > Yikes, do you think the LDN caused your liver enzymes to be elevated? > > Cheers! > Alyssa 16 yo > UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008 > SCD June 2009 (restarted) > Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per day > Prednisone 12.5 mg 1x per day (trying to wean!!!!) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2010 Report Share Posted August 8, 2010 Hopefully my numbers will be good this time. Or maybe I need to take up your liver care program :-).Lol =) Sounds like beet juice is the miracle liver cure... Cheers!Alyssa 16 yo UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Prednisone 10 mg 1x per day (trying to wean!!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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