High transaminases in pregnancy: the reasons and when to worry
Having high transaminases in pregnancy happens to far more pregnant women than you might imagine. In most cases this is a solvable problem especially if the triggering causes are quickly identified. When you discover that you are pregnant, it is normal to have specific examinations and visits to avoid any kind of problem. Before we delve into the matter together, we leave you with a video on the things not to do during pregnancy.
High transaminases in pregnancy: what are they?
Transaminases are a class of enzymes found primarily in the liver and other muscle organs, such as the heart. It is important to worry about their measurement especially to detect potentially serious problems with the organs in question. Hepatitis, acute or chronic, calculosis, gallbladder and infectious mononucleosis, are just some of the examples. From a medical point of view, the transaminases that will be analyzed are of two types: AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) High transaminases in pregnancy can be present even without specific symptoms and the woman may realize that something is wrong only when the situation is already deteriorating.
Often even low values can cause concern, especially if you are facing gestation for the first time. What are the causes and what can be done to remedy the problem? Let's see together.
See also
Causes of high transaminases in pregnancy
High transaminases in pregnancy can also indicate very serious problems, as we mentioned in the paragraph above. This rule, however, applies to all individuals who have high transaminases, who may be affected by problems with the liver or other major organs.
Only the doctor will be able to diagnose the problem, not before having done some simple blood tests. In this way it will be possible to trace the causes that led to having the transaminase values too high; at this point he will prescribe therapy aimed at solving the problem.
Here are the most common causes of high transaminases in pregnancy:
- Acute hepatitis
- Chronic hepatitis
- Toxic hepatitis
- Problems with the gallbladder
- Myocardial problems (in rare cases, and only if you have previously had a heart attack)
- Wrong diet problems: in this case, the transaminases rise when we eat foods that are too high in fat or take in more calories than we should.
- Intense physical activity.
- Hormonal imbalances caused by gestation.
Therefore having high transaminases in pregnancy could be an absolutely normal fact due to the hormonal changes common in the weeks of gestation (in particular in the 1st week); if you intervene in time there is no risk for the fetus or even for the mother!
The main diseases that could involve the liver in the case of high transaminases are: acute inflammation of the liver and intrahepatic cholestasis of gravidarum.
The first is manifested by specific symptoms such as jaundice, nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain, clear and obvious symptoms that require prompt medical attention. It is a serious situation which, if not treated, can jeopardize the health and life of the mother and the fetus with consequences that can be very serious.
There intrahepatic cholestasis of gravidarum in pregnancy it usually occurs in the second half of the gestational period and is a rare condition: if it occurs it tends to resolve immediately after delivery.
There are two main symptoms: itching and jaundice, as well as the very high values of transaminases.
High transaminases in pregnancy: what to do?
If the blood tests show elevated transaminase values, rules can be put into practice right away. Here's what to do.
The transaminase values can be lowered, after having ascertained that there are no serious problems with the liver or other organs. One of the first things to do is to review your nutrition and diet.
We should try to reduce as much as possible the portions of:
- fried food
- sweets
- animal fats
- excessively fatty meats
- cheeses, both fresh and aged
- egg
- canned meat and fish
- extremely refined foods
All these foods to be digested put a strain on the liver and if this organ is already weakened, it could fail in the enterprise, with all the related and connected problems.
The foods to be preferred and which can be eaten in complete tranquility are:
- low-fat meat
- fresh fruit
- paste integrate
- rice and whole grains
- seasonal vegetables
- dried fruit
Another valid solution would be to start a moderate physical activity. This can help, but there must be ideal conditions that only the doctor can evaluate. Even if you are pregnant you can devote a few hours of the day to physical activity to lower high transaminases in pregnancy. A short daily walk, a little water aerobics, but also a little yoga can all contribute to a healthy physical activity that can reduce the values of these enzymes. If you want to know which sports are indicated during gestation, read our article: sports during pregnancy - the 5 recommended activities.
The doctor's opinion on high transaminases in pregnancy
Having high transaminases in pregnancy can mean many things; in some cases these elevated values can represent an alarm bell for even serious pathologies of the liver or heart.
When blood tests show transaminase levels that are too high, they must be immediately brought to the attention of the doctor, who will in all likelihood prescribe other tests to identify the primary cause of the oversized values.
Never do it yourself: on the one hand it is true that unnecessary alarmism should be avoided, but always taking into account that it is still a condition that can hide much more serious problems and it is good not to underestimate the health of the child you are carrying. In the womb.
Frequently asked questions about transaminases in pregnancy
Is having transaminase values slightly higher than normal a common situation in pregnancy?
Transaminase values slightly higher than the norm are however to be considered normal during pregnancy even if during gestation it is much more frequent for transaminases to be low.
Normal values are the same as for a non-pregnant woman, ie: ALT values between 7-45 U / L; while those of AST 8-43 U / L.
However, as we often remember, only after a careful analysis of the results of the examination will the doctor be able to express himself in this regard.
Can high transaminases in pregnancy have no symptoms?
Exactly! High transaminases in pregnancy can be present without necessarily manifesting themselves with clear symptoms. Most of the causes of having high transaminases in pregnancy often have no symptoms. We must not ignore the problem just because we feel good, regardless of whether or not we are pregnant, we do routine analyzes.
