The liver is located in the upper-right portion of your abdominal cavity. It is dark reddish-brown in color and functions to regulate many chemical levels within the blood and secrete bile to help break down fat in the intestines. Over 500 different liver functions have been identified, according to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, which include the regulation of amino acids, clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances, regulating blood clotting and resisting infection by producing immune factors and removing bacteria. When the liver sustains damage, enzymes leak from the cells into the the bloodstream.
Liver Enzymes
Liver enzymes are secreted by the liver and indicate an inflammation or damage to the cells in the organ. This inflammation can cause the liver cells to leak higher than normal amounts of chemicals called alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, according to MayoClinic.com. An elevation in liver enzymes is usually only detected during liver function tests, a blood test which measures the presence of enzymes in the bloodstream. Many times these elevations are mild and temporary and do not signal a chronic or serious problem. However, when liver enzymes are chronically elevated they can indicate other significant health problems that must be addressed to protect the health of this important organ.
Fatty Liver
This is a condition in which there is a build-up of fat within the liver cells, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. It is not a normal condition and can be associated with inflammation, scarring and hardening of the liver. As the condition develops and progresses, the patient's liver enzymes will be elevated. Although it seems logical that eating fatty foods would cause a fatty liver, physicians are still not clear as to what causes the build-up. It is associated with individuals who are obese, suffer from diabetes mellitus, have high blood triglycerides and engage in heavy alcohol use. Fatty liver can also occur with tuberculosis, malnutrition, intestinal bypass surgery and an excess amount of vitamin A. Without treatment fatty liver can lead to cirrhosis and a reduced efficiency and effectiveness of functioning. Treatment requires control of the underlying reason and often weight loss.
Liver Failure
Liver failure is a severe deterioration of liver function that can be caused by a blockage of bile, liver enlargement, high blood pressure in the vein that drains the liver, a build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity or cirrhosis as a result of excessive alcohol use, according to Children's Hospital Boston. When liver failure occurs, liver enzymes are elevated; elevated levels of bilirubin and below normal levels of the proteins made by the liver also occur. In most cases, liver enzymes are significantly elevated in liver failure and end-stage liver disease will require a liver transplant to prevent death.
Asymptomatic Patients
Asymptomatic is the medical term used when no symptoms from a specific condition are present. A review of research literature published in the "New England Journal Of Medicine" in August 2000 discussed liver enzyme elevation in patients who presented to their physician without any symptoms. Researchers found that occupational exposures to solvents can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver changes and liver disease. They theorize that the widespread use of solvents and other toxins in the environment may explain liver enzyme elevations due to work-related chemical exposure.
Disease States
Other diseases can also cause an elevation in liver enzymes, according to MayoClinic.com. Diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, celiac disease, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, heart attack, hypothyroidism, liver cancer, mononucleosis, muscular dystrophy, pancreatitis and Wilson's disease can all cause an increase in liver enzyme secretion. Some prescription medications, such as statin drugs to control cholesterol, and over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, can also cause an increase in liver enzyme secretion.
References
- Lucile Packard Children's Hospital: Anatomy and Function of the Liver
- MayoClinic.com: Elevated liver enzymes
- Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology: Fatty Liver
- Children's Hospital Boston: Liver Failure
- "New England Journal Of Medicine"; Elevated Liver Enzymes in Asymptomatic Patients; P. Blanc, C. Redlich; August 2000
