Coumadin and abn LFT's

[Gisele]

Would anyone know about how long term use of coumadin can affect the liver? I had an appt with a new PCP last week and in running routine labs-one of which was LFT's (liver function tests) I was shocked to see that my GGTP result was 550 (range is: 2-34). My SGOT was 66 (range 9-23), my SGPT was 106 (range 0-30) and my Alk P was 238 (range 36-95). I had to go for repeat labs today, plus hepatitis panel, iron studies etc. Scheduled for a liver scan this Friday.
I am trying to find some info on the net but I haven't found anything that would relate to me. I am not an alcoholic, nor am I a drug user, unless you consider Coumadin, prinivil, etc drugs. I am concerned over the implications of my lab results, but I also don't want to over react. Could my Coumadin be at the bottom of this?
Thanks for any info any of you would have.
Gisele

 

[Nancy]

Hi Gisele-

My husband has just been diagnosed with the possible condition of cardiac cirrhosis. Which, I guess, is not a true cirrhosis, but acts like it. It is caused when Congestive Heart Failure causes fluids to back up into the liver, scarring it and making it enlarge. This was discovered by accident when he went in for gallbladder surgery, and the surgeon saw what he thought looked like cirrhosis. A biopsy was done. The liver was large enough to be readily felt through right side of his abdomen. We thought it was a hernia poking through, but it was a lobe of the liver all along. When enlarged, it was very painful.

From time to time I thought he looked jaundiced, and then it would go away. I guess it correlated with the bouts of CHF, and when it cleared up, the liver returned to more normal status. However, he will never have a normal liver.

Joe also has a blood condition called hemolytic anemia caused from his valves"beating up" his blood. He has a very old valve of 25 years (Bjork-Shiley aortic) which is not as kind and gentle as the new ones. He also has a new St. Jude mitral.Maybe this also contributed to his condition. He's complicated. He had rheumatic fever as a teen.

The surgeon said that Coumadin would not have caused this liver condition, but CHF would have. There is a condition of the gallbladder, however, called hemorraghic gallbladder which is caused by long term usage of Coumadin, my husband did not have this problem.

I'm sorry you're having this problem. I hope this helps. Let me know what they find out. We're always looking for info. too.

 

[Nancy]

I forgot to add that if you are going to have a liver biopsy, please make sure that all involved know about ALL of your medical history, and don't let them slough off anything that you tell them. They must be very, very careful.

My husband almost lost his life after this surgery because of a post op bleedout. It took 3 days to get the bleed under control, including a reop and 30 units of various blood products and innumerable visits from all kinds of specialists. He was in the hospital for 12 days, and is home now, but a month after this happened, he's still struggling with recovery, and will probably not be well for another few months.

I cannot tell you the actual reason for the bleed. It could be from a number of things, so just make sure your PCP takes extra precautions if there is any surgery planned, and make your cardiologist aware of any plans that are in the works.

 

[Mb]

I might just add.........make certain you get antibiotics, IV, before they do the procedure. It is invasive, and the last thing you need is bacteria in your bloodstream. Call your cardio and speak with him about it!

Best of luck to you...........Marybeth

 

[Gisele]

Wow!

Wow!

Well Nancy, your husband and I have a lot of similarities. I had rheumatic fever when I was ten, and I have had a Bjork Shiley Mitral valve for 22 years. I had additional blood work done today looking for mostly hepatitis, and iron studies. I will request a copy of the results, as I did for last week's labs. This way I have a copy and I can forward a copy to my cardiologist. My past history includes two bleeds. One subdural which was spontanious, and then the most recent in my hip while on Lovenox. I am anxiously awaiting my results from todays labs. On the up note, I am not aware that I have ever suffered from CHF. As for the antibiotics I am certain that if further testing such as a biopsy is required, that my cardio will take all the precautions necessary. Thanks for the imput. I really do appreciate it.
Gisele

 

[Nancy]

I noticed some of the similarities in your member page. I am amazed that people who have had rheumatic fever have very similar symptoms as their bodies age.

 

[GregB]

Gisele
I had a similar experience with LFT. Don't have the readings in front of me now but certainly outside the normal range. I was given no clear explanation of why this occured. I also had a number of follow up blood tests but the LFT returned to an acceptable range for some reason. I am not aware of doing anything very different with diet, exercise etc.
The whole episode was quite puzzling.
Sorry can't be of much help other than to say I have had a similar phenomenon. I guess my doctor will continue to monitor LFT in the future. Hope things get back to "normal" before anything serious develops.

 

[Gisele]

Thanks Greg

Thanks Greg

I am seeing my physician in two weeks. I am not sure what the next step will be. I have not been able to find much info regarding abnormal LFT ranges other than the generic info available. I was trying to find out with a level of 550--what could that indicate? No luck, so I will have to wait it out. At least my nuclear scan came out normal. Plus my hepatitis panel and iron studies also were normal.
Glad to hear that everything went well with your levels.

Melbourne, huh? My daughter in-law is from a small town near Gladstone, Queensland. Quite a way from where you are. We found the people to be so friendly when we went in March for the wedding. Lovely place. Who knows, maybe some day I will return, if I don't think about the long flight...............

Gisele