Hepatitis C Blood Tests
Quite often patients as well as their doctors focus first on liver enzymes and viral load. They use this as a measurement of how they are doing. While enzymes reflect inflammation they don’t answer the Big Picture, which is the stage of liver fibrosis.
This begs the question of what tests impart clues as to the stage of liver disease? We look at the following tests to get a sense of the progression of liver damage. Platelets, albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, ammonia, prothrombin time and bilirubin are blood tests that reflect the stage of liver fibrosis. Of these platelets, albumin, and bilirubin are routinely performed. As well as prothrombin is becoming increasingly more common in panels. Red and white blood cells also will often drop as liver gets fibrotic, however many other conditions can influence their count, so they are not reliable markers.
Using blood tests along with signs and symptoms can be very accurate. For example if we see platelets below 70, Albumin below 3.3 and a swollen abdomen and legs (ascites) we clearly know that this individual has Cirrhosis (Stage 4).
Another aspect of comprehending blood test is knowing what the numbers mean, how low is low, how high is high. In a very smart move some labs will alert the patient when a value is truly critical.
Albumin is the most abundant protein found in the blood. It is made in the liver. Albumin maintains osmotic pressure, when levels drop too low fluid leaks out of blood vessels and causes ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen) and swelling of the legs. Creating an accurate scale for albumin is more challenging as we have seen edema and ascites in patients with greater variation, including albumin levels well into the normal range. Here is a rough guide for you.
Alchemist Lab Albumin Scale
4.5 to 5.0 Strong
4.0 to 4.4 Good
3.5 to 3.9 Low Normal
3.0 to 3.4 Low
Under 3 Critically low
In treating Hepatitis we have never encountered excessive levels of albumin which can be problematic. In one scale over 5.4 is high. Again we have seen fluid accumulation cases in patients with low normal albumin levels.
For low albumin we use Chlorella and Red Root Combination.
Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) is a group of enzymes primarily found in liver and bone. The mucosal cells that line the bile system of the liver contain AP. When bile ducts or the gallbladder system are blocked levels build up in the blood. AP can also reflect bone disease. For high AP we use Chanca Piedra, Lidan Pian, Phosphatidyl Choline, Meriva SR, and Milk Thistle/Siliphos.
Alpha-Fetoprotein: The A-F gene is found next to albumin’s on chromosome 4 interesting enough. It is produced in the yolk sac by fetuses. In adults its level is very low, though detectable and researchers know of no adult function of A-F. Certain types of cancers including hepatocellular (liver) and biliary carcinomas show elevated A-F.
With Alpha-fetoprotein the reference ranges can differ more dramatically between labs ranging between 6.6 and 12 in what is considered high. What is more important is what is the danger zone with alpha-fetoprotein.
Alchemist Lab Alpha-Fetoprotein Scale
Normal — under 9
Elevated — 9 to 200
Beginning Stage of Danger Zone — 200 to 400
Danger Zone — over 400
In all these years of practicing we have only seen one person who actually had liver cancer whose A-F value was under 200 (161). The majority of cases of frank liver cancer we have seen the A-F value was over 1000. Yet we routinely see patients who have been told that they are dying when their A-F levels are 25.
For high alpha-protein we use Coriolus, Red Clover Combination, Artemisinin, Tian Qi, and Super K
ALT/AST: Liver enzymes are normally found within the liver cells. When the liver is damaged these enzymes spill into the blood and higher amounts are detected. For high enzymes we suggest Acetyl Glutathione, R+Lipoic Acid, Milk Thistle/Siliphos, Meriva-SR, Calcium and Lithium Orotates.
Ammonia is a byproduct of protein digestion. The liver clears ammonia as liver function deteriorates ammonia levels rise and eventually can cause hepatic encephalopathy. This is the brain being poisoned by toxic build-up.
For high ammonia we use L-Ornithine L-Aspartate (LOLA)
Bilirubin is the yellow breakdown of heme catabolism. Heme is found in hemoglobin, which is a major component of red blood cells. Bilirubin is what gives urine its yellow coloring. In jaundice not only is the skin yellow, but the urine is darker. Elevated bilirubin can cause intense itching. Bilirubin is also what gives some bruises its yellow coloring. For high bilirubin we recommend Red Clover Combination.
Cholesterol: The simplest key to understanding cholesterol is that high is good and low is bad and very low is very bad. HDL, LDL, and vLDL all carry cholesterol, protein, and triglycerides. HDL carries the most protein, vLDL carries the most triglycerides. vLDL are difficut to measure and are usually estimated as a percentage of the triglyceride value.
Both vLDL and the hepatitis C virus are secreted by hepatocytes (liver cells) and circulate together through the blood in a complex. HCV is dependent on the assembly and secretion of vLDL. Naringenin inhibits the secretion of vLDL thus lowering HCV levels.
TRIGLYCERIDES
Optimal Below 150 mg/dl
Good 150 to 199
High 200 – 499
Very Bad 500 and up
HDL
Optimal 60 and above (High we want High)
Acceptable 40 – 59
Bad Less than 40
LDL
Optimal Less than 100 (Low we want Low)
Good 100 – 129
OK 130 – 159
High 160 – 189
Very Bad 190 and up
Some believe the whole cholesterol scale is skewed low to sell more statin drugs. We are just presenting the most commonly used scale without editorial comment except for emphasizing good and bad for maximum comprehension.
Creatinine is by-product of normal muscle metabolism. All of it is cleared by the kidneys as it has no further function in the body. High levels of creatinine in the blood show poor kidney filtration. For high creatinine we give Membrane Complex which strengthens the basement membrane of the kidneys. We also suggest Acetyl Glutathione, Chanca Piedra, and Marshmallow Combination which is available from the clinic 415-454-6901.
GGT is found in the cell membranes of many tissues most notably the liver. An elevated GGT often means damage to the bile ducts. For high GGT we use Chanca Piedra, Lidan Pian, Phosphatidyl Choline, Meriva SR, and Milk Thistle/Siliphos.
Glucose: The glucose test performed in the Metabolic Panel is a Random Blood Sugar test meaning they are not testing specifically after eating, fasting, or drinking sugar solutions. Normal blood glucose for this test is between 70 and 125. People with hepatitis tend towards more glucose issues as the liver stores glycogen (glycogen is a storage molecule for energy) and releases it as necessary to balance blood sugar. For high glucose we give PQQ, Meriva-SR, R+Lipoic Acid, Hep C Powder, and Jungle Brew.
INR (Internalized Norm Ratio) see Prothrombin. Prothrombin time is measured in seconds by adding in tissue factor to plasma. INR is a way to standardize the testing of Prothrombin by having the manufacturers assign a sensitivity index to each batch of tissue factor that they make. If the blood would clot easily we could not survive, so blood clotting happens when part of the tissue which normally does not contact the blood vessels penetrates into the blood to start the cascade of the clotting process. this obviously is the tissue factor.
Iron: Both Japanese and Italian studies have recently confirmed what I have long observed. Hepatitis C patients with high iron have higher levels of liver enzymes. Reducing iron levels for these patients bring down these enzymes.
We often image Hepatitis C as a smoldering or awakened fire. Prehistorically in the Paleozoic Era, oxygen levels were much higher than they are today, making fires much more frequent. Excess iron feeds the fire by generating oxidative stress, which is the mechanism that damages hepatocyes in Hepatitis C.
Let’s talk about iron tests, so you can correctly understand your bloodwork:
Serum iron measures the level of iron in your blood.
Serum ferritin indicates the amount of stored iron in your body.
Ferritin is the main storage protein for iron inside of cells.
Total Iron Binding Capacity TIBC measures the amount of transferrin that you have. Transferrin is a blood protein that transports iron from the gut, where it is absorbed from food. When iron stores are low, the body will make more transferrin. If there is too much iron being absorbed, the body will reduce production of transferrin. On average about 1/3 of the transferrin in the body is being used to transport iron. Our bodies have an excess iron-binding capacity. This is called the Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity (UIBC). UIBC plus serum iron equal TIBC.
For high iron or ferritin we give Apolactoferrin. Lactoferrin both regulates and contains iron. We only use Apolactoferrin, which is iron reduced and readily chelates iron in the body. We secondarily use IP6, and Siliphos/Milk Thistle.
Platelet levels drop as liver damage progresses. Out of the individual blood tests platelets are the most reliable marker for the degree of liver fibrosis. Platelets help clot the blood and stop bleeding. Hemorrhages are often the way that Hepatitis C patients will die, so obviously platelet levels are extremely important in Hepatitis C.
Alchemist Lab Platelet Scale
140 to 400 Normal
100 to 140 Low
70 to 100 Of Concern Low
50 to 70 Critically Low
Under 50 Danger Zone
For low platelets we give Super K, Tian Qi, Red Root Combination, and Squalene.
Prothrombin (PT) measures one of the pathways of blood coagulation. The liver synthesizes Factor VII which is an integral part of this process. Factor VII is also Vitamin K dependent. Tissue Factor is normally only found outside of blood vessels. When someone is injured and skin is pressed into blood vessels Factor VII binds with Tissue Factor (TF) and this initiates clotting.
Advanced liver disease can translate into high prothrombin times as Factor VII can be in short supply. This is critically important as bleeding to death is a very real possibility, especially given that varices are more fragile than normal blood vessels. Normally the liver has massive blood flow, as it gets damaged and fibrotic blood does not move through it as easily. The body compensates by creating additional blood vessels to bring more blood to the liver. These are called varices.
Supplements to treat high prothrombin or INR time are Super K, Red Root Combination, and Tian Qi.
Red Blood Cells: RBCs carry oxygen and nutrients to all of our cells. Low RBC or anemia results in fatigue, rapid heartbeat, inability to concentrate, pallor, shortness of breath. It is important in Hepatitis C to not supplement iron directly in anemia. If iron levels are low as well as RBC use the Liver Yin Essence formula. For low RBC we use Liver Yin Essence, Acetyl Glutathione, Squalene and Chlorella.
Viral Load: Viral load scales are somewhat arbitrary including this one, but give patients some perspective. One keynote is that doctors notice that there is more success with conventional treatments when the viral load is under 400,000 iu per ml.
So low is 400,000 or less
Moderate is 400,000 to 4 million
High is over 4 million
Again we have seen people out running triathalons at uncountable levels beyond 50 million and we have seen people dying from liver failure from Hep C with very low viral loads. Viral load needs to be understood within the framework of the entire case and are not a good linear indicator.
High Viral Load is treated by Hep C Powder, REM+, Thymic Protein A, Coriolus,Vitamin D3, Oxymatrine, Naringenin, Apolactoferrin, Argentyn 23, Quercitin, D-Lenolate (Olive Leaf), and Jungle Brew.
White Blood Cells: WBCs will often drop in advanced hepatitis. This will often leave the person more vulnerable to other infections, colds & flus etc. When WBCs are low we supplement with immune builders. Low WBC is treated by Hep C Powder, REM+, Thymic Protein A, Coriolus,Vitamin D3, Squalene, Lactoferrin, and Oxymatrine.