The term "liver enzymes" refers to aspartate aminotransferase, or AST, and alanine aminotransferase, also called ALT. Enzymes are proteins used to speed up the time of various reactions in the cells of the body. Both enzymes are located in the liver, a small amount is found in the bloodstream, and AST is also found in other organs and tissues. There is an increase in the liver enzymes as a result of various liver problems.
Budd-Chiari Syndrome
Budd-Chiari syndrome describes a condition that worldwide affects one out of every 100,000 people, according to Dr. David Geller, professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, in "Schwartz's Principles of Surgery." In this liver problem, the hepatic vein that drains blood from the liver is blocked, which can be due to blood clots, but not necessarily. As a result of this blockage of blood flow, people may have abdominal pain, a large abdomen due to the accumulation of fluid and a large liver because of the backup of blood flow.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
Fat can accumulate in the liver because of the damage done to it by the long-term abuse of alcohol. People can develop a nonalcoholic fatty liver as a result of abnormally high lipid levels, diabetes type 2 or obesity. This liver problem can affect people of all ages, but is usually seen in those between 40 to 60 years old, writes Dr. Steven Herrine, professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, in "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals." Many feel uncomfortable on the right side of their abdomen, and most have a large liver.
Wilson's Disease
Wilson's disease is a hereditary disease in which people have a mutation in one of their genes. This disorder affects one person in 30,000 to 40,000, says Dr. George Brewer, emeritus professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." People with this disorder do not have enough of a protein that carries copper in the bloodstream. As a result, copper accumulates in the brain, in the outer edge of the cornea of the eye and in the liver. This accumulation can cause neurological problems, as well as liver inflammation and liver failure.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the medical term to describe cancer of the liver. In America, it is primarily due to cirrhosis of the liver from alcohol, from nonalcoholic fatty liver and from the hepatitis C virus, according to Dr. Baochong Chang of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in "M.D. Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology." From 2001 to 2006, 48,596 people were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. This number is expected to rise, primarily due to the approximately 4 million people with hepatitis C and the increasing number of people who have cirrhosis as a result of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Liver Abscesses
An abscess is an area where pus has collected, and more abscesses develop in the liver than in any other organ. In fact, in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," Dr. Miriam Baron of Harvard Medical School writes about a study in which out of 540 abscesses located in the abdomen, 48 percent of the abscesses that were within organs were in the liver. Some people may have one liver abscess, while others may have several. Bacteria that circulate through the bloodstream can reach the liver and cause this liver problem. Other times, an abscess can develop from a nearby infection.
References
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony Fauci, M.D., Dennis Kasper, M.D., Dan Longo, M.D. et al.; 2008
- "M.D. Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology"; Dr. Hagop Kantarjian et al; 2006
- "Schwartz's Principles of Surgery"; Dr. F. Charles Brunicardi; 2010
- "Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals": Fatty Liver
