Latest Data Trends

I still get blood work analyzed bi-weekly. I know the doctors review the results, and Logan and I do the same when we get a copy. Bilirubin is the one number that hasn’t fallen in line to normal levels, and I’ve been reading into other trends to forecast trends. It hasn’t worked:

In addition to bilirubin, Logan talked about the other three liver function tests in a previous post: AST, ALT, and Alkaline Phosphatase. Here are the blood tests since the date of my last transplant, May 13:

I see a number go up, no matter how slight, I get worried.  Putting it into context and on a longer time scale, I see how far into the noise I’ve been sticking my nose:

• Normal values for Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP) are 20 – 125.  I was seeing an upward trend over the last few weeks, and the last value is 84. This well within the normal range, and has been for 2 months. I know from experience this number can reach 1542.
• Normal values for ALT are 2 – 60.  I was seeing week after week growth: 17 to 18 and then to 23. What was I worried about?  That’s not even close to the normal limit, and that sure looks like noise compared to the long term trend.
• Normal values for AST are 2 – 50.  Again, week after week growth from 17 to 19 to 23. Seriously?  I can barely make out those differences compared to the long term trend.

There is a very plausible explanation for high bilirubin levels with normal liver function.  It affects 3 to 7% of the population, and usually goes undiagnosed, because there are no ill-effects, except for possible jaundice: Gilbert’s Syndrome. My conclusion is I might have it – either born with it, or it came with the liver donation.