LOW Liver Enzymes???

Wolfsong · 10-22-2003, 01:14 PM

I have been on Glucophage XR for five months and am four and a half months pregnant. My OB wanted me off the Glucophage immediately, but my RE and peri wanted me to stay on, so I'm staying!

Since I no longer see my RE (who is VERY knowledgable in PCOS), I guess I haven't been monitored as well as I should have been. I had a liver enzyme test done before I started Glucophage and it was fine. When I was at my peri a week and a half ago, I asked him about testing my liver enzymes because I was told it needed to be checked every three months. I haven't been checked at all since starting it, and I'm pregnant, so I was kind of concerned.

I just got the results back (my husband works at the hospital so I got the results before the doctor did) and I have four things that are low (nothing was high), one of them being my AST (which is my liver enzymes). The range is from 15-41 and mine is 13. The other three things were related to low protein, which is most likely caused by the rampant diarreah I've had since starting Gluc (my peri wants me to take FiberCon and I've increased my carb intake a little, both of which seem to be helping, but this was after I took the blood test).

I've tried to research low liver enzymes on-line, but can really only find info on high enzymes. Can anybody help me out here? I'm worried that my peri is going to take me off Glucophage.

PS: My blood sugar is perfect (sometimes even a little on the low side) which is the main reason I'm staying on Gluc for the duration of my pregnancy ... to help prevent gestational diabetes.

christyz · 10-22-2003, 01:28 PM

AST is an enzyme found mostly in the heart and liver, and to a lesser degree in other muscles. When liver or muscle cells are injured, they release AST into the blood.

I would call your Dr and get him to explain the results to you. Most likely since yours is just slightly lower than the normal value, they would just re-test again in a few weeks and see if it improves. But you do deserve a satisfactory explanation as to why this could be occurring and what the plan is from here. I am concerned about your mention of rampant diarrhea. That's pretty scary when you're pregnant and trying to nourish your little peanut in utero. I would definetly be insistant of some answers if that were me, so I hope you can get some soon.

Good luck!

Wolfsong · 10-22-2003, 08:14 PM

My husband spoke to my peri earlier and I feel much better. He said that because chem panel tests are done as a normal person and not a pregnant woman, the results are sometimes a little skewed. He said that pregnant women have much more blood than an average person, so the results are a little "diluted." He said everything looks great and he's not the least bit worried about any of the results. I am especially happy with my blood sugar, which was only 81 after having an egg, cheese, pork roll sandwich on an English muffin just two to three hours before I took the test (I wasn't told to fast or anything). I normally wouldn't have had an English muffin, but I was in a mad rush and it was the only thing handy.

christyz · 10-22-2003, 08:42 PM

Glad to hear it, Wolf! That info sounds very reassuring.

nobimbo · 10-22-2003, 10:30 PM

That's great that your doc was able to relieve your anxiety about this. Pregnancy can cause low AST; here's a blurb about that:

http://health_info.nmh.org/library/h...sp?hwid=tu6476

Low levels of AST may indicate a vitamin B6 deficiency.
Low levels of AST may also be caused by long-term kidney dialysis.
AST levels may decrease slightly during pregnancy.

Linda