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low b12/elevated liver enzymes
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low b12/elevated liver enzymes
Before I had my colon/endo and my LC diagnosis, I had blood work done (a few times actually)..Everytime I was low in B12 and my Dr recommended shots and my liver enzymes where elevated, my bilirubin and ALT levels. Was this common with anyone else?
I get blood tests every 6 months to check for autoimmune hepatitis. I have the autoimmune antibodies for it but they are waiting for my liver enzymes to be abnormal to declare me diagnosed. Very scary. I'm hoping the GF/DF diet will keep my liver enzymes normal. Have they checked your ANA and Anti-Smooth Muscle/Anti-Actin Antibody levels? My B12 level is on the low end of normal.
Read this:
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understan ... /test.html
"The presence of SMA, F-actin antibodies, and ANA are highly suggestive of autoimmune hepatitis but not diagnostic. When significant concentrations of both are present and the doctor suspects autoimmune hepatitis, then a liver biopsy may be performed to look for characteristic signs of damage and scarring in the liver tissue."
I don't mean to scare you, but in the interest of leaving no stone unturned...
I get re-tested next month. I plan to also ask for a test for Hepatitis C too. I don't have any risk factors, but I hear it's much more common than previously thought, especially among baby-boomers (although I'm not a baby boomer). Hep C can mimic the blood results of autoimmune hepatitis.
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understan ... /test.html
"The presence of SMA, F-actin antibodies, and ANA are highly suggestive of autoimmune hepatitis but not diagnostic. When significant concentrations of both are present and the doctor suspects autoimmune hepatitis, then a liver biopsy may be performed to look for characteristic signs of damage and scarring in the liver tissue."
I don't mean to scare you, but in the interest of leaving no stone unturned...
I get re-tested next month. I plan to also ask for a test for Hepatitis C too. I don't have any risk factors, but I hear it's much more common than previously thought, especially among baby-boomers (although I'm not a baby boomer). Hep C can mimic the blood results of autoimmune hepatitis.
Wow, I eas reading the Mayo Clinic page on autoimmune hepatitis and came across this little known risk factor:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autoim ... sk-factors
Factors that may increase your risk of autoimmune hepatitis include:
■Being female. Although both men and women can develop autoimmune hepatitis, the disease is far more common in women.
■Age. Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis can occur at any age. Type 2 primarily affects young girls.
■A history of certain infections. Autoimmune hepatitis may develop after a bacterial or viral infection.
■Use of certain medications. Certain medications, such as the antibiotic minocycline and the cholesterol medication atorvastatin (Lipitor) have been linked to autoimmune hepatitis.
■Heredity. Evidence suggests that a predisposition to autoimmune hepatitis may run in families.
More reason to HATE Lipitor, and they want to add it to the water supply!?!?!
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autoim ... sk-factors
Factors that may increase your risk of autoimmune hepatitis include:
■Being female. Although both men and women can develop autoimmune hepatitis, the disease is far more common in women.
■Age. Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis can occur at any age. Type 2 primarily affects young girls.
■A history of certain infections. Autoimmune hepatitis may develop after a bacterial or viral infection.
■Use of certain medications. Certain medications, such as the antibiotic minocycline and the cholesterol medication atorvastatin (Lipitor) have been linked to autoimmune hepatitis.
■Heredity. Evidence suggests that a predisposition to autoimmune hepatitis may run in families.
More reason to HATE Lipitor, and they want to add it to the water supply!?!?!
I just noticed the link to low B-12 too. Seems many members here have the autoimmune conditions described here. I'm assuming MC could take the place of UC in this description...
Autoimmune hepatitis may be associated with a variety of other autoimmune diseases, including:
■Pernicious anemia. Associated with a number of autoimmune disorders, pernicious anemia occurs when a lack of vitamin B-12 interferes with your body's ability to form red blood cells.
■Hemolytic anemia. In this type of anemia, your immune system attacks and breaks down red blood cells faster than your bone marrow can replace them.
■Thrombocytopenic purpura. Platelets are blood cells that help your blood clot. In thrombocytopenic purpura, your immune system attacks and destroys these cells, leading to easy bruising and bleeding.
■Ulcerative colitis. This inflammatory bowel disease can cause severe bouts of watery or bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain.
■Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis). In this condition, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
■Rheumatoid arthritis. Another autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of your joints, leading to stiffness, pain, swelling, and sometimes deformity and disability.
■Celiac disease. This disease causes an abnormal reaction to gluten, a protein found in most grains. Eating gluten sets off an immune response that damages the small intestine.
Autoimmune hepatitis may be associated with a variety of other autoimmune diseases, including:
■Pernicious anemia. Associated with a number of autoimmune disorders, pernicious anemia occurs when a lack of vitamin B-12 interferes with your body's ability to form red blood cells.
■Hemolytic anemia. In this type of anemia, your immune system attacks and breaks down red blood cells faster than your bone marrow can replace them.
■Thrombocytopenic purpura. Platelets are blood cells that help your blood clot. In thrombocytopenic purpura, your immune system attacks and destroys these cells, leading to easy bruising and bleeding.
■Ulcerative colitis. This inflammatory bowel disease can cause severe bouts of watery or bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain.
■Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis). In this condition, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
■Rheumatoid arthritis. Another autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of your joints, leading to stiffness, pain, swelling, and sometimes deformity and disability.
■Celiac disease. This disease causes an abnormal reaction to gluten, a protein found in most grains. Eating gluten sets off an immune response that damages the small intestine.
Jenny,
Low B-12 is somewhat common for those of us with MC. Low Vitamin D is also a problem, (and a risk factor for developing IBDs in the first place). How's your 25(OH)D level, (that's the correct blood test to determine the amount of vitamin D available in your system)?
Tex
Low B-12 is somewhat common for those of us with MC. Low Vitamin D is also a problem, (and a risk factor for developing IBDs in the first place). How's your 25(OH)D level, (that's the correct blood test to determine the amount of vitamin D available in your system)?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Jenny,
When I was looking up the changed ingredients in my vitamin B supplement, I came across the following article about choline (a B group 'vitamin'). Look down at the bit about symptoms, where it talks about raised ALT.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/o ... s/choline/
I wonder if your raised ALT could simply be the result of vitamin deficiencies? We have previously found reports showing colitis patients have a range of vitamin deficiencies including B (esp B12), D and K. Not surprising when we have limited diets and struggle to absorb what we do eat.
Is the doc giving you B12 injections? Or are you taking a supplement?
Lyn
When I was looking up the changed ingredients in my vitamin B supplement, I came across the following article about choline (a B group 'vitamin'). Look down at the bit about symptoms, where it talks about raised ALT.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/o ... s/choline/
I wonder if your raised ALT could simply be the result of vitamin deficiencies? We have previously found reports showing colitis patients have a range of vitamin deficiencies including B (esp B12), D and K. Not surprising when we have limited diets and struggle to absorb what we do eat.
Is the doc giving you B12 injections? Or are you taking a supplement?
Lyn
Thanks for the info, very interesting...
My doctor started me on the shots. The first one was fine but, a month later a had my second and right afterward the left side of my face went numb and was tingly for the next 48 hours. It scared me enough to not have another! I haven't looked into any other ways to get it since. I figured that if my body was having a hard time absorbing it, it would probably have a hard time absorbing a supplement.
My doctor started me on the shots. The first one was fine but, a month later a had my second and right afterward the left side of my face went numb and was tingly for the next 48 hours. It scared me enough to not have another! I haven't looked into any other ways to get it since. I figured that if my body was having a hard time absorbing it, it would probably have a hard time absorbing a supplement.
Jenny,
The best way for someone with MC, (or celiac disease), to utilize a B-12 supplement, is to use sublingual lozenges, which are designed to dissolve under the tongue, and go straight into the bloodstream, thereby bypassing the digestive system. Be sure you're getting enough folic acid, when you take B-12, because adequate folate is essential for the utilization of B-12. You can buy sublingual B-12 lozenges which also contain 400 micrograms of folic acid.
Tex
The best way for someone with MC, (or celiac disease), to utilize a B-12 supplement, is to use sublingual lozenges, which are designed to dissolve under the tongue, and go straight into the bloodstream, thereby bypassing the digestive system. Be sure you're getting enough folic acid, when you take B-12, because adequate folate is essential for the utilization of B-12. You can buy sublingual B-12 lozenges which also contain 400 micrograms of folic acid.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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