The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in the body, in charge of detoxifying the body of noxious substances, and of processing ingested food into energy for use by other organs. The liver contains a number of enzymes to aid in its many functions. When there is liver damage, these enzymes leak into the blood stream, causing an elevation of liver function enzymes. An elevation of liver function enzymes is called hepatitis.
The Enzymes
The hepatic panel is a blood test that detects the level of liver enzymes in the blood stream. According to the Nemours Foundation, the most commonly measured liver enzymes in the hepatic panel are ALT, or alanine aminotransferase; AST, or aspartate aminotransferase; and ALP, or alkaline phosphatase. ALT is primarily found in the liver and more closely reflects liver damage or inflammation. AST is also found in muscles, including the heart, and the kidneys, so an elevation of AST is not as specific to liver damage. Alkaline phosphatase is found in the liver, bile ducts and bone, and can be elevated in children and adolescents due to their rapid bone growth.
Causes
Many conditions can cause elevation of the liver enzymes. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes include certain prescription and over-the-counter medications; viral hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, C, and the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes infectious mononucleosis; fatty live disease, an infiltration of fat deposits within the liver as a result of chronic alcohol consumption and other conditions; and obesity. Other less common causes of elevated liver enzymes include liver cancer, pancreatitis, and liver cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver tissue.
Symptoms
A person with elevated liver enzymes may exhibit a few nonspecific symptoms at first, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Depending on the cause, symptoms can progress to fatigue, weakness and weight loss. More specific symptoms of liver disease include jaundice, a yellowish tinge to the skin and the whites of the eyes; liver enlargement, or hepatomegaly; ascites, or accumulation of fluid within the abdominal cavity; and bleeding problems.
Treatment
The treatment of hepatitis depends on its cause. Viral hepatitis is usually self-limited, and the liver enzymes return to their normal levels as the person's condition improves. Hepatitis B and C can cause chronic hepatitis and long-term elevation of the liver enzymes. In severe cases of liver disease, the liver scars and becomes cirrhotic, causing a decrease in the liver enzymes that signals a worsening of the condition. In those circumstances, liver transplantation may be the only option for survival.
