Liver Values | Arthritis Information
Does anyone know which liver tests the doctors are most concerned about while on MTX? And along those lines, how bad does it have to get before they stop MTX treatment? I have one test that barely, and I mean barely comes back high about every other testing period. By the way I do my tests every 8 weeks.
My doc is obviously not concerned, but he's really hard to talk to. He's from another country, and he gets a little irritated with my questions. I can tell he wishes that I wouldn't self educate. Anyway...That's why I have my RA peeps!
Mine are usually a little elevated, and my RD says they are within respectiable range. Maybe there is a range? Ask your RD what his range is?
Hope you are feeling well.
I don't know La- I hope Lovie sees this. She had elevated liver enzymes so she probably knows.
Hey Joonie-yep I feel great. It's my T.Bilirubin that occasionally has gone 1.2 mg/dl-1.3 mg/dl. The range is <0.1-1.0>. As you can see it is barely over the high end, but I can't stand not having all of the information . LaWanttobe-has Lovie been posting much? I feel like I haven't seen her name much as of late.[QUOTE=TheLa]
Does anyone know which liver tests the doctors are most concerned about while on MTX? And along those lines, how bad does it have to get before they stop MTX treatment? I have one test that barely, and I mean barely comes back high about every other testing period. By the way I do my tests every 8 weeks.
My doc is obviously not concerned, but he's really hard to talk to. He's from another country, and he gets a little irritated with my questions. I can tell he wishes that I wouldn't self educate. Anyway...That's why I have my RA peeps! [/QUOTE]
Isn't it the ALT and the AST from the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel? It's been a long time since I was on MTX, but I remember my RD running the CMP frequently.
I'm really concerned, however, with the comments that your RD gets irritated with your questions. I would encourage you to find someone you are comfortable with and that you feel like you can ask questions. Your RD will be part of your ongoing medical team.
Kweenb- well those values are just about perfect, so that would be good.
My doc isn't the worst, it's really more about a cultural barrier. He comes from a country where women aren't treated as equally. He's not the best, but he's definitely not the worst. He didn't mess around giving me my diagnosis, and starting me on meds. When it really matters I stick to my guns, and I
do love his nurse. Thank you for your support, we do need to look out for ourselves don't we.
La- no she is not on much- but maybe try and PM her?
[QUOTE=kweenb][QUOTE=TheLa]
Does anyone know which liver tests the doctors are most concerned about while on MTX? And along those lines, how bad does it have to get before they stop MTX treatment? I have one test that barely, and I mean barely comes back high about every other testing period. By the way I do my tests every 8 weeks.
My doc is obviously not concerned, but he's really hard to talk to. He's from another country, and he gets a little irritated with my questions. I can tell he wishes that I wouldn't self educate. Anyway...That's why I have my RA peeps! [/QUOTE]
Isn't it the ALT and the AST from the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel? It's been a long time since I was on MTX, but I remember my RD running the CMP frequently.
I'm really concerned, however, with the comments that your RD gets irritated with your questions. I would encourage you to find someone you are comfortable with and that you feel like you can ask questions. Your RD will be part of your ongoing medical team.
[/QUOTE]
It is the ALT & AST....mine were both in the 125 range when my doctor finally discontinued MTX all together. Normal is below 40 I htink. You can google elevasted liver test and easily find the exact ranage. We tried lowering it but that didn't help. I finally had to come off of it and be off of it about two months before it went back down. I've chosen not to go back on it at least for a while. It was rough there for a while but I've adjusted and since I take Humira I've been ok with out it. I was worried sick about stopping it but I'm done really well.
They say that as long as your doctor monitors your liver on a regular basis most liver problems can be reversed if caught soon enough. Hope that helps some.
Lovie-thanks that is helpful. You don't have any info about the T bilirubin do you? LaI think I found the answer to the increase in bilirubin. It appears that anti malarial drugs can increase bilirubin, ie plaquinel. I also found on these sights that you should wait at least 4 hours after eating to have your blood drawn...no one ever told me. I checked my blood tests, and my increased levels coincided with tests performed after lunch. Anyway...FYI. LaAnother liver related measure is Albumin. My rheumy told me that it often runs low in folks with RA, even if they're not taking MTX, because it's sensitive to inflammation levels. That was the case for me for many years. However, my last five blood tests have shown my albumin levels to be well within the normal range, which my doctor attributes to having been on Humira the past two years. Here's a link that provides lots of useful info on blood tests:
http://www.labtestsonline.org/
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