I wanted to pass this info from Mayo Clinic along to you. It gives a brief
explanation for some of the causes of elevated liver enzymes:

"I have elevated liver enzymes. What does that mean?
- No name given / California

Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Michael Picco, M.D., and colleagues answer select
questions from readers.

Answer
A laboratory report of elevated liver enzymes is common. It doesn't indicate a
specific disease. However, it may be due to a liver disorder, even if you don't
have any symptoms of liver problems. To determine the underlying cause of
elevated liver enzymes, your doctor may recommend further testing.

Liver enzymes help maintain a variety of chemical and metabolic processes that
occur in the liver. Normally, only very small amounts of these enzymes are
present in your blood.

Common causes of elevated liver enzymes include:

*Medications, such as certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
cholesterol-lowering medications, antibiotics and anti-seizure medications
*Drinking too much alcohol
*Obesity
*Diabetes
*Elevated triglycerides
*Infection, such as viral hepatitis and mononucleosis
*Autoimmune disorders of the liver and bile ducts, such as autoimmune hepatitis
and primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis
*Metabolic liver disease, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease
*Excessive use of certain herbal supplements, such as kava, comfrey, pennyroyal
and skullcap
*Tumors of the liver or bile ducts

Treatment of elevated liver enzymes depends on the underlying cause. It is
important to tell your doctor about any nutritional or herbal supplements you
are taking."

Not to alarm you, but primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare but not
unheard of liver disease seen in some people with IBD. I hope that's not the
reason for her elevated levels, but hopefully more tests will reveal the cause
over the next few days.

If you want to read more on the Mayo site, here's the link I cited:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/elevated-liver-enzymes/HQ01011

Regards,

Jean (Gregory, 12; CD)



---- Casey Smith <caseylsmith@...> wrote:

=============
Hi everyone

My sister Amy was admitted to Orange Coast Hospital in
Fountain Valley yesterday. She was on 40mg of
prednisone for 2 weeks and got to the point of pain
that she could barely get down water. Tomorrow she is
having an upper gi series and small bowel series, the
cat scan came back with no perforation but with bad
inflammation and scar tissue. Her doc wants to do the
surgery, so we will see what happens tomorrow after
the tests.

She is taking 100mg of solucortif (same as
prednisone)3 times a day, every 8 hours, which is
300mg every 24 hours.............yikes. Her liver
enzymes came back elevated, does anyone know why that
would happen? Does anyone have any stories about
Orange Coast Hospital in Fountain Valley? The doc
wants to do a laproscopic surgery to clear the
stricture and take the appendix out. She is in room
339 if you want to call!

Any stories or suggestions are appreciated!!!!!

Hugs to you all, and I hope you are all doing well!!!

Love,

Casey



Love, and Blessings,
Casey Smith


"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"
Isaiah 40:31

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