elevated liver enzymes?

[celticepona]

Hello,

If you read my other post, I had a checkup at my primary care phys. yesterday at 7 weeks postpartum. She said that I am still preeclampsic, and I still have hyperreflexia. She wants to hold off on sending me to a neurologist for two more weeks to wait for me to get better. She said that the preeclampsia is getting better, but basically I am not out of the woods yet. I had bloodwork done, and it came back with normal kidney function, (thank god)but my liver enzymes were elevated a little bit. She told me not to panic, and that they will recheck them with more bloodwork in two weeks. I am concerned with permanent, long term damage from my bout with preeclampsia, which I have had since about 35 weeks pregnant. My doc thinks that my readings will be more normal in a couple of weeks, has this happened to anyone else?

[laura]

Celticepona- first, Can I just say that your baby's avatar is just adorable? What a sweetie! Now, to business- sometimes with really severe disease- it can take a long time to get back to normal postpartum. It's probably a measure of how sick you were when baby was born. Some people will take months to get back to completely normal- but your doc was right in that you'll probably be better in a couple of weeks, especially where the liver enzymes are concerned- just hang in there, and let us know how you're doing, ok? [:)]

Laura
Moderator/AK Coordinator

Mom to Alicia (severe PE) 5/98 and Camille (htn, oligo) 4/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/c/camilleandallie/

[bmleziva]

My bout with PE was on the mild side. However, for months after, I had elevated liver enzymes. They started out being double the norm at one month and got as high as triple by 6 months out. After seeing a liver specialist, the levels started to return to normal. By my son's first birthday my liver levels were normal again. I continue to get checked but all seems to be well. Of course, I am pregnant again, so who knows what will happen this time. Anyway, just thought I would let you know that I also had liver enzyme issues and all turned out well.

The most interesting part to me is that when this all started, my ob said that it was not preg related, as did my family dr, AND the liver specialist. Yet during a recent trip to L&D for tests, I mentioned the elevated liver enzymes and they said that they were not surprised due to my PE?? Either way, all returned to normal:)

Good luck to you!!

Bobbie Jo
Brayden 1-10-02 (37 wks PE)
EDD #2 8-23-04

[laura]

Bobbie Jo, the way our resident Hellp (unofficial) expert and moderator explained the liver issues is that the liver is constantly growing and replacing itself- so the liver you have after you give birth is not the same liver you have eight months later, so ongoing elevated liver enzymes probably aren't related to HELLP, they're related to something else. (does that make any sense?)

Catherine is out of town right now, or she'd come and explain it better right now- but most of our docs think that the possibility of on-going liver problems is theoretical rather than practical- theoretically, the liver could get scarred. So, any persistent problems post-partum probably should be evaluated by either a liver specialist (a hepatologst [sp?]) which are sometimes hard to find- or a gastroenterologist.

here's a link to the expert post:
http://www.preeclampsia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2594

Laura
Moderator/AK Coordinator

Mom to Alicia (severe PE) 5/98 and Camille (htn, oligo) 4/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/c/camilleandallie/

[bmleziva]

Laura,

I understand what you are saying. I understand why they said that it was not PE or HELLP related. However, I just feel that after all my body went through with PE and my pregnancy that it was not hard to understand that my liver might be a bit damaged from the meds and distress. Especially since the levels returned to normal so quickly after my son was born and there have not been any problems since. None of the doctors that I saw had a reason for the increase in levels. They had at one time thought Fatty Liver but for some reason that was ruled out.

Thanks for your info!

Bobbie Jo
Brayden 1-10-02 (37 wks PE)
EDD #2 8-23-04

[celticepona]

my doc mentioned fatty liver too. But it is reassuring that your levels returned to normal afterwards...that makes me feel better![:I]

DD Emily born 4-01-04 at 37 weeks due to severe PE/Eclampsia. Currently postpartum preeclampsic/hyperreflexic. On medication.