My Gamma GT levels are 120! And I don't drink alcohol.

[Enuff]

I had blood tests taken last week and was called into the doctors this week to be told that my cholestrol is slightly higher than normal 6.1, but what worries me the most is I was told that the level of Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT or "Gamma GT") in my liver are at 120, normal levels are around the 60 mark.

It worries me because high levels are normally seen in people who drink alcohol - I read a post from a alcoholic (not on here) saying that his GGT levels are at 119 and he's been a alcoholic for the past 10 years.

Basically, what I'd like to know is what (other than alcohol) can cause such high GGT levels?

I dont think my doctor believes me when I tell him I don't drink.

[greencreeper]

I would have thought that a high level indicates liver disease, as oppose to, say, G&T intake. Liver disease could be caused by a variety of things.

[Enuff]

The practice nurse took more blood this week to be sent to the labs so they can check for hepatitis. I had the same tests 3 years ago, which came back negative, I'm hoping that these latest test results come back the same. (fingers crossed).

[Salu]

A raised GGT is not a diagnostic indicator on it's own. You have to consider the bigger picture and other symptoms. It can be high in liver disease but is more likely to be a biliary outflow obstruction rather than liver damage.

It can be raised in the obese and has been shown to be linked with an increased likelihood of heart disease. It's also linked with pancreatic problems and diabetes .....Certain drugs can cause it to raise too..

However postulating here would be futile as I don't know enough about Dodger to comment specifically.

PM me if you want to discuss further.

[mark_gg_daniels]

Hey
I have had a very similar result this week. i had a Gamma GT of 123. I als had around 50% depleted neutrophiles level (white blood cells) what can cause this? I tried to see a link online but there wasnt any. My doctors a real dinosaur and couldnt hear what I was asking him - so wasnt any help (im registering somewhere else on monday)

The difference is, I do drink - bur im almost certain my drinking habits would nto justify this high level of Gamma GT. I tend to drink around once a week (not this week due to this result) and I do get quite drunk. Could it be possible that when i had the blood test it was artificially high due to the liver detoxifying what Id had on the weekend?

I have another blood test in 3 weeks, and i will not drink in the meantime and go back and see if there is a change.

Also, what could cause depleted neutrophiles. I am prone to Urinary tract infection, and im thinking whether the low blood cell is causing this prones, or the UTIs themselves are causing depleted neutrophiles? My biochemistry is limited , so maybe someone could help with this one.

Thanks all.

---------- Post added at 14:28 ---------- Previous post was at 14:23 ----------

oh, thought I would add: im 22 non smoker male. I am a paraplegic (due to road accident) I consider myself of just slightly above average weight, and visit the gym around 1-2 times per week. I probably eat around average, some healthy food, some bad. The proness to urinary tract infection is due to the fact I must catheterise periodiclly to empty my bladder, and its inevitable that a bug will enter the bladder at some point (i have around 2-3 infections per year) I have a slight feeling that recently I may have had some kidney infection as the symptoms did suggest - could this cause the results I posted above?

(im like a rolling health problem - and probably cost the NHS a fortune)

[Salu]

Originally Posted by mark_gg_daniels

Hey
I have had a very similar result this week. i had a Gamma GT of 123. I als had around 50% depleted neutrophiles level (white blood cells) what can cause this? I tried to see a link online but there wasnt any. My doctors a real dinosaur and couldnt hear what I was asking him - so wasnt any help (im registering somewhere else on monday)

The difference is, I do drink - bur im almost certain my drinking habits would nto justify this high level of Gamma GT. I tend to drink around once a week (not this week due to this result) and I do get quite drunk. Could it be possible that when i had the blood test it was artificially high due to the liver detoxifying what Id had on the weekend?

I have another blood test in 3 weeks, and i will not drink in the meantime and go back and see if there is a change.

Also, what could cause depleted neutrophiles. I am prone to Urinary tract infection, and im thinking whether the low blood cell is causing this prones, or the UTIs themselves are causing depleted neutrophiles? My biochemistry is limited , so maybe someone could help with this one.

Thanks all.

---------- Post added at 14:28 ---------- Previous post was at 14:23 ----------

oh, thought I would add: im 22 non smoker male. I am a paraplegic (due to road accident) I consider myself of just slightly above average weight, and visit the gym around 1-2 times per week. I probably eat around average, some healthy food, some bad. The proness to urinary tract infection is due to the fact I must catheterise periodiclly to empty my bladder, and its inevitable that a bug will enter the bladder at some point (i have around 2-3 infections per year) I have a slight feeling that recently I may have had some kidney infection as the symptoms did suggest - could this cause the results I posted above?

(im like a rolling health problem - and probably cost the NHS a fortune)

I think the best advice I can give you is to go back to your GP and discuss your concerns with him. Some of the older GPs are less used to the "expert patients" and tend not to explain things as fully as this kind of patient would like.
Also, one shouldn't look at biochemistry in isolation without considering history and clinical examination etc. As you are also paraplegic then this complications things even further as various organs may be denervated and the neutropenia may or may not be due to a current infection......

It's best not to speculate though. I know the internet may seem tempting to broaden one's knowledge but you also need an understanding of how to interpret this knowledge as well. In the first couple of years of medical school several of us had convinced ourselves that we had various syndromes and illnesses. A headache was no longer a headache.....it was an aneurysm or meningitis etc...

[mark_gg_daniels]

Hey

Had repeat test and it just got worse. I also had a low level of Platelets, and a sedimentation rate (didnt catch it as was on the screen)

Doctor said he wants to still sit on it and wait 8 weeks. I am not fully convinced and am considering going to a new GP for another opinion

---------- Post added at 00:56 ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 23:28 ----------

Ok i can provide some more details

Neotrophils are low (believe half)
PLatelets - Low
Neutrophils - Low
erythrocyte sedimentation rate - High (normal 1-10, mine 11)
Gamma GT - 123 (normal 0-55)

im starting to get worried as the first 3 keep bringing me to Leukemia, something my aunt died off. They also suggest infection which is also a possibility, and I hope this is what it is as i am prone to them

Not sure where Gamma GT comes into the equation, the doctor thinks it is probably my drinking (which I still think is not that much, but I do drink a lot on the occasions i do drink) - also apparently alcohol can cause a drop in platelets,

I hope its as simple as this, as I dont fancy having cancer frankly.