Elevated Liver Enzymes

What Causes Elevated Liver Enzymes?

The goal of this article is to provide answers about what causes elevated liver enzymes and to encourage readers to have regular physical examinations to check for elevated liver enzymes. Liver problems rarely have symptoms in the early stages, and there can be significant liver damage before any signs or symptoms of liver trouble appear. A regular physical exam that checks for elevated liver enzymes can be a vital tool in detecting liver disorders and conditions early so they can be treated effectively. 

What causes elevated liver enzymes? You need to know a little about what liver enzymes are and how the human liver functions to understand what causes elevated liver enzymes.

Your liver performs multiple functions related to metabolism and overall health. Some of the most important include synthesizing proteins, storing of glucose and certain vitamins, metabolizing carbohydrates, protein and fats, filtering toxic materials which can damage the body, and producing substances that break down fats. 

There are literally thousands of enzymes in the liver that help it accomplish its many tasks. When some of these enzymes accumulate at elevated levels, it's a sign that something is wrong. Elevated liver enzymes usually mean the liver isn't functioning properly and the liver is being damaged.

There are dozens - possibly hundreds - of causes of elevated liver enzymes. The most common include diabetes and drinking too much alcohol. Diseases like hepatitis and mononucleosis also damage the liver and trigger high levels of liver enzymes. You can also suffer liver damage from certain medications - especially if you take too much or don't follow dosage recommendations. Certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cholesterol-lowering medications, antibiotics and anti-seizure medications lead the list here. Overuse of certain herbal supplements, such as kava, comfrey, pennyroyal and skullcap may all damage liver health. 

Liver diseases such as liver cancer,  hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease trigger elevated liver enzymes, as can autoimmune disorders of the liver and bile ducts.

It's not widely known that obesity can cause elevated liver enzymes. Individuals with obesity often have a condition known as fatty liver disease. When you have fatty liver disease, fat deposits accumulate in the liver and eventually cause inflammation and swelling. Inflammation can destroy liver cells and scar liver tissue. This scarring process is called cirrhosis, and if it's not treated, it can lead to fatal liver failure. 

If you have elevated liver enzymes, you'll usually need specific tests to determine exactly what's wrong. These tests could be an MRI, biopsy, ultrasound, CT scan, and liver blood tests. See liver function tests. 

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