It is important to note that high levels of GGT is not specific to liver disease. In some cases, it can be an indication of congestive heart failure or diabetes.
High levels of GGT can be because of the following medical conditions:
- Excess consumption of alcohol
- Cirrhosis
- Diabetes
- Pancreatitis
- Excess consumption of drugs or any medications
- Heart failure
- Chronic viral hepatitis
The GGT test helps to diagnose liver disease but can not determine the cause of the disease. If the GGT results are abnormal, your doctor may prescribe you to undergo a few more tests to determine the cause.
Liver damage is a serious condition and at times can be fatal. Pay attention to the early signs and symptoms of liver damage or disease. If the damage is diagnosed at an early stage, it will be easier to begin the treatment and reverse the damage.
Inform your doctor if you have any symptoms of liver disease, GGT test and a few other tests will help to diagnose the disease as well as understand its cause.
Following a healthy diet, quitting alcohol and nicotine are some of the first few steps towards maintaining a balanced GGT level. Follow up with your doctor to understand the cause of the result, discuss treatment options and precautions that need to be taken.
When should it be repeated?
The GGT test levels are subject to fluctuations. You might be asked to repeat the test if your doctor believes that the abnormal level of GGT in your test is the result of certain medications or alcohol. Apart from alcohol, nicotine can also have an impact on GGT levels.
To evaluate a particular medical condition, your doctor may ask you to repeat the GGT test after a few months to confirm the recovery and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
If you are someone who has completed alcohol rehabilitation sessions, your doctor may prescribe you to take a GGT test at regular intervals to check if you are following the instructions provided at the sessions.
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