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Positive PEth in a non-drinker

Posted by kpm @kpm, May 7, 2022

My husband has NALD which has turned to cirrhosis. Last May his MELD score reached 15, meaning time get on a transplant list. During the process we were shocked to find out his blood work came back with a high PEth score and continues to do so. He does not consume any alcohol whatsoever!!! We need help desperately as to what could be going on with his body to cause this. We are now going for a 2nd opinion as we thought he would be sent to some type of specialist to determine what's causing alcohol to present in his blood work and instead they only want to continue with the blood test. We have even asked that he be hospitalized to determine what's going on. We realize that doctors get lied to all the time, but it's now fair to punish someone that has something unexplainable going on. If alcohol were causing the issue - we would have numerous ways to deal with the problem. But again he doesn't drink anything alcoholic. Desperate for answers - can anyone help.

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jimdandy1 | @jimdandy1 | Sep 8, 2023
In reply to @catdog "My husband was denied a transplant because of a positive Peth Test (300). He retested five..." + (show)
@catdog

My husband was denied a transplant because of a positive Peth Test (300). He retested five days later and was negative. He had not had any alcohol in almost 6 months. He died a few weeks later. The only thing I can think of that could have caused this result (other than the tests are erratic) is sugar substitute. He would drink iced tea with Splenda and I know he drank that before his blood test.

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Sorry for your loss, my wife and I have moved on to a different liver Dr. as I had exhausted all of my efforts to convince Mayo that something besides alcohol had caused her to test positive. Thank you so much for your response I greatly appreciate it. Jim& Jean

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jennifer0726 | @jennifer0726 | Sep 9, 2023

I read these posts this morning about high PEth and this afternoon was watching something that mentioned Auto-Brewery Syndrome. I will attach two screenshots that you might want to research this idea. I don’t know if your doctors have already considered it. Just an idea.

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1 reply
catdog | @catdog | Sep 25, 2023
In reply to @jennifer0726 "I read these posts this morning about high PEth and this afternoon was watching something that..." + (show)
@jennifer0726

I read these posts this morning about high PEth and this afternoon was watching something that mentioned Auto-Brewery Syndrome. I will attach two screenshots that you might want to research this idea. I don’t know if your doctors have already considered it. Just an idea.

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing this information about Auto-Brewery Syndrome. I looked this up on Wikipedia and 2 of the risk factors are liver cirrhosis and Klebsiella bacteria, both of which my husband had. Although he has now passed away, I am continuing to look for a cause of 2 positive Peth Tests. The second positive Peth test was after he was hospitalized with absolutely no access to alcohol and after a negative Peth test. This should have been a red flag to the doctors that something else was causing it.

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1 reply
jennifer0726 | @jennifer0726 | Sep 25, 2023
In reply to @catdog "Thank you for sharing this information about Auto-Brewery Syndrome. I looked this up on Wikipedia and..." + (show)
@catdog

Thank you for sharing this information about Auto-Brewery Syndrome. I looked this up on Wikipedia and 2 of the risk factors are liver cirrhosis and Klebsiella bacteria, both of which my husband had. Although he has now passed away, I am continuing to look for a cause of 2 positive Peth Tests. The second positive Peth test was after he was hospitalized with absolutely no access to alcohol and after a negative Peth test. This should have been a red flag to the doctors that something else was causing it.

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I am so sorry to hear about your husband.

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footballmum | @footballmum | Sep 26, 2023

Good morning
I'm not a health care provider but has he been tested for that desease that turns starch into alcohol in your blood. My cousin's husband had that. He was charged many times with DUI, even though he hadn't been drinking, until a Dr finally did some tests and discovered this. It's worth a try
God's blessings on your journey

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