How do statins affect liver function tests?

Statins cause dose-dependent borderline elevations of liver function tests over time. These elevations are clinically and statistically insignificant and should not deter physicians from prescribing or continuing statins.

Can statins cause liver enzymes to be elevated?

Standard doses of statins elevate liver enzymes in about 1 percent of patients, usually within the first four months. The likelihood of this elevation increases in older people and in those taking other medications that might interact with statins or also raise liver enzymes.

What liver enzymes are elevated with statins?

Liver toxicity has hardly ever been reported but mild elevations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) have been recorded [11]. Conversely, in patients with liver diseases, statins have actually led to improved levels of ALT and/or AST [12].

Can statins Raise your ALT levels?

Clinical trials have shown that statin use has been associated with elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in approximately 3% of persons who take the drugs.

Is liver damage from statins reversible?

People that experience statin induced liver injury have a generally positive prognosis. These injuries are usually short-term and reversible.

Is statin bad for liver?

While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people who take them and may rarely cause liver damage.

Are statins hard on the liver?

Statins should not be taken if you have severe liver disease or if blood tests suggest that your liver may not be working properly. This is because statins can affect your liver, and this is more likely to cause serious problems if you already have a severely damaged liver.

Can statins affect the liver?

Can statin affect your liver?

Do statins mess up your liver?

When should I stop taking statins for elevated liver enzymes?

If the levels of transaminases increase to more than 3 times baseline values, discontinuation of the drug should be considered. Clinical correlation with worsening of underlying disease, as well as exclusion of alcohol abuse and drug interactions, should be done before attempting permanent discontinuation of the drug.

What labs check liver function?

A complete blood count test, also called a CBC, is often ordered along with a liver panel for people with suspected liver damage or cirrhosis . Although a CBC does not measure liver function or cirrhosis, the test can provide clues about what may be occurring in the body that could adversely affect the liver.

What is considered high AST and ALT levels?

If you go outside (or too high) this range then you are considered to have elevated liver enzymes. The standard range largely depends on the laboratory but in general, is somewhere around 0-45 IU/l for ALT and 0-30 IU/l for AST. If your AST and ALT are higher than the 45 and 35 then they are said to be “elevated”.

What causes elevated ALT and AST levels?

Common causes of elevated ALT and AST are viral liver infections, alcohol abuse, cirrhosis (from any chronic causes), hemochromatosis (iron overload), shock, and/or heart failure. Common causes of abnormal AST and ALT levels are wide ranging (for example, toxins, and autoimmune diseases).

Do statins raise liver enzymes?

Standard doses of statins elevate liver enzymes in about 1 percent of patients, usually within the first four months. The likelihood of this elevation increases in older people and in those taking other medications that might interact with statins or also raise liver enzymes.