What May Cause Elevated Liver Enzymes?

Statins

Statins seem to be a common prescription for high cholesterol. They may help reduce an individual's risk of stroke or heart attack. Research seems to indicate that this medication can reduce a patient's risk of a second heart attack or stroke by forty percent. However, statins may trigger several side effects. Common ones appear to be abdominal pain, muscle weakness, headaches, and bloating. Other possibilities may include sleeping issues and dizziness.

Statins appear to trigger elevated liver enzymes too. However, this may be a rare side effect. Patients should be able to reduce their risk by limiting their dose. Their doctor may also monitor their liver function closely. Patients seem to be allowed to continue taking this medication if they only see mildly elevated enzymes. However, they may need a different medication if this gets higher.

Get more information on what may trigger this condition now.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease seems to be another trigger for elevated liver enzymes. This disease may occur when fat cells accumulate in the liver. However, it does not appear to be the result of alcohol consumption. Instead, possible causes may include high blood sugar, insulin resistance, obesity, and high triglycerides. Risk factors seem to include sleep apnea, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Patients may be diagnosed during a blood test done for another reason. This may be because it does not always trigger visible symptoms. The blood test, however, may reveal their elevated liver enzymes. Other diagnostic tests seem to be liver biopsies, CT scans, and abdominal ultrasounds.

The standard treatment for this condition appears to be weight loss. Patients may be asked to lose up to ten percent of their weight. However, benefits may start appearing when they have lost five percent. This disease seems to trigger cirrhosis of the liver when it is left untreated. Patients in these circumstances may require a liver transplant.

Continue reading to discover another potential cause of this condition now.