elevated aminotransferases

Question

Hello, My son is 16-month-old, we have just undergone routine follow-up tests, which revealed elevated aminotransferases. The doctors say, that it requires just observation, they do not change the therapeutic regimen, but I do worry about it - what does it possibly mean to him? We have to perform additional tests to exclude CMV infection and Toxoplasmosis...

Answer

Hello,
We assume, that your son suffers from CF. Some of CF patients can suffer from liver disease, which is characterized by different clinical course. The mildest form of liver disease, in the absence of other characteristic symptoms, are abnormal results of laboratory tests assessing liver function, most of all elevated levels of aminotransferases: Aspat and Alat. In order to evaluate precisely the liver function, some additional laboratory tests and imaging procedures, like ultrasonography, should be performed. In more advanced cases of liver disease also endoscopy and liver biopsy should be considered. This is the doctor's decision, which tests should be performed in a particular patient.
However, one can not exclude, that elevated levels of amintransferases in your son are caused by other factors, e.g. infection (e.g. CMV, Toxoplasma gondii etc.), and this is why the doctor taking care of your son decided to perform some additional tests as a part of so-called differential diagnostics.
With kind regards,
dr med. Natalia Kobelska-Dubiel
prof. dr hab. Wojciech Cichy

12.05.2011