Elevated liver enzymes can signify damage to the liver caused by a variety of triggers, from medications to hepatitis or heart attack. They can also indicate disease of the gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ located near the liver in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity.
Gallbladder Function
As part of the digestive system, the gallbladder stores a chemical compound produced in the liver called bile that aids in the digestion of fat molecules. Consumption of food that contains fat sends a signal to the gallbladder, which then contracts and releases bile into the small intestine through a series of ducts. Bile then breaks down fat compounds into smaller particles, making them easier for your body to digest.
Elevated Liver Enzymes
Among the liver's many digestive, metabolic and detoxification processes, it produces and secretes enzymes that work throughout the body. A liver function test measures the amounts of several liver enzymes and proteins. Test results that show elevated liver enzymes may indicate infection or inflammation in the liver, its ducts or surrounding organs, including the gallbladder. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in particular are often elevated in the presence of gallbladder disease.
Gallbladder Diseases
Various diseases can affect your gallbladder and its function. Cholecystitis refers to gallbladder inflammation. Ninety percent of the time, cholecystitis is caused by gallstones, according to MedlinePlus, an online resource for the National Institutes of Health. Gallstones are small stones of concentrated bile salts that collect in the gallbladder or ducts, blocking the normal flow of bile. This blockage can lead to painful inflammation and infection of the gallbladder, the liver and the ducts connecting the gallbladder to the liver and the small intestine. Other, but notably less common, diseases include chronic acalculous gallbladder disease, gangrene, polyps and gallbladder cancer.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of gallbladder diseases reported is intense pain in the upper center and right areas of the abdomen. This pain can radiate to the right shoulder and back and typically intensifies after you consume fatty meals. You may also suffer from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever and chills. Gallbladder diseases are often difficult to diagnose; your physician will use multiple tests, including a liver function test, to help with diagnosis.
Treatment
Conservative gallstone treatment includes modifying your diet or taking medications that dissolve them. However, if these do not resolve the issue or your gallbladder has irreparable damage, your physician may suggest surgical removal, called a cholecystectomy. A cholecytectomy has few complications, often allowing you to go home the same day of your operation if done laparoscopically. Over time, the liver will assume gallbladder function and release bile directly into the small intestine as needed.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Elevated Liver Enzymes; May 5, 2011
- "Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach"; Dee Unglaub Silverthorn, Ph.D.; 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gallstones and Gallbladder Disease; June 2009
- MedlinePlus: Cholecystitis; July 2009
- MedlinePlus: Gallbladder Disease; July 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Cholecystectomy
