Does anyone know about liver function tests?

Dougie had two recently as a requirement of the Eltrombopag trial, and both have returned out of range scores meaning that he can't start.

On the first and the second test, his ALP level was slightly above the normal range, although this had reduced slightly on the second. The doctor thought this may have been due to a growth spurt? The second test also returned an elevated bilarubin result and the doctor seems more concerned about this.

Dougie has to go back at the beginning of July to get another set of the tests at the hospital - the doctor said that if they weren't ok, they would have to do further tests to find out what was happening.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? I am a bit worried he might have something else going on. He seems to have no luck recently.......

Thanks, Ali

I have autoimmune hepatitis so liver function results i am pretty familiar with.

Alkaline Phosphatase Aka ALP what i was told was this is elevated in people who have active bone growth ie children so thats not all that unusual.

Bilirubin is by product of cleaning of red cells but is usually absorbed into the liver and secreted via the bile tract into the intestines. Bilirubin is the cause of jaundice.

People naturally go through cycles in terms of results so it could be absolutely nothing. Did you get told any of the figures. I would not worry yet as if he is not presenting with symptoms or loosing weight then its likely just a little blip.

Hope this helps

Mark

Thanks Mark - you have it all going on with your health don't you. No one deserves ITP and anything else!

The doctor did mention the figures, but I can't remember them - must listen better in the future. I think his bilirubin was maybe 33, but I am not sure. It can't be that bad because he is definitely not jaundiced. I don't think the doctor was that bothered with the ALP result, as like you, he said it could be the result of the fact that Dougie is growing fast at the moment. The ALP result was out of range both times, but less so the second time.

I'll put the panic on hold for now then!

I have a few things wrong with me but i am far from the worst and i would rather i had these problems than my brother or parents or my freinds.

Anyway 33 is kind of high (Adult range is 3-15 mmol/ L) as far as i can find after one month the levels for children are not much lower. But as i said its all cycles and Vit C has been shown to reduce Bil so they say Also some antibiotics can increase Bil has he been treated for infection?

No, he's not even been ill that I noticed. I may be remembering the 33 wrong - I think the doctor said he got worried when it hit 40? Dougie looks and feels fine, so maybe its just one of these blip things that you would never know about unless you were testing for something else.

Thats the story of my life. The three autoimmune conditions i have where diagnosed at different points in my life while testing for something else. But your doctor will know best about kids levels but i have had really high numbers on most of my liver pannel and i am ok so its not big deal.

I will keep dougie in my thoughts and prayers and hope his path get a bit easier for him And aslong as he feels ok thats all that matters.

Bilirubin is the biproduct of the red cells being broken down, usually at the end of their life. I'd guess that they'd look for autoimmune haemolytic anaemia first as the fast breakdown of red cells would cause a high bilirubin level and it does go along with ITP to give Evans Syndrome.

At that sort of level.. 33.. you might notice the whites of the eyes look a bit yellow, yellow skin comes at a higher level than that.

I think I must have remembered the number wrong then because he doesn't look at all yellow. The doctor didn't say anything about red cells and he's not going back until the beginning of July, so it can't be too bad.