What is bilirubin?
Bilirubin is a brownish yellow substance found in bile. It is produced when the liver breaks down old red blood cells. Bilirubin is then removed from the body through the stool (feces) and gives stool its normal color. A bilirubin test measures the amount of bilirubin in a blood sample. Bilirubin passes through the liver and is eventually excreted out of the body.Higher than normal levels of bilirubin may indicate different types of liver problems. Occasionally, higher bilirubin levels may indicate an increased rate of destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis).Total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels are measured directly in the blood, whereas indirect bilirubin levels are derived from the total and direct bilirubin measurements.When bilirubin levels are high, the skin and whites of the eyes may appear yellow (jaundice). Jaundice may be caused by liver disease (hepatitis), blood disorders (hemolytic anemia), or blockage of the tubes (bile ducts) that allow bile to pass from the liver to the small intestine.
Symptoms & causes of high bilirubin
High bilirubin levels can occur in adults, but the disorder is more common in newborn infants. This is because it takes some time after birth for an infant to start efficiently metabolizing bilirubin and excreting it in their stool.If you have high bilirubin, your symptoms will depend on the underlying cause. You can have mildly high bilirubin and have no symptoms at all. Or, with moderately high bilirubin, you may only have jaundice, a yellow cast to your eyes and skin. Jaundice is the main sign of high bilirubin levels.Other general signs of many of the illnesses that cause high bilirubin can include abdominal pain or swelling,chills,fever,chest pain,weakness,lightheadedness,fatigue, or nausea.Having high bilirubin can be a sign of several conditions. Your doctor will take your symptoms, as well as any other test results, into account to help narrow down a diagnosis.Gallstones happen when substances like cholesterol or bilirubin harden in your gallbladder. Your gallbladder is responsible for making bile, a digestive fluid that helps break down fats before they enter your intestines.Any condition that affects the function of your liver can cause bilirubin to build up in your blood. This is a result of your liver losing its ability to remove and process bilirubin from your bloodstream.
Bilirubin Tests
A bilirubin test measures the amount of bilirubin in your blood. It’s used to help find the cause of health conditions like jaundice, anemia, and liver disease.If your bilirubin levels are higher than normal, it’s a sign that either your red blood cells are breaking down at an unusual rate or that your liver isn’t breaking down waste properly and clearing the bilirubin from your blood.Another option is that there’s a problem somewhere along the pathway that gets the bilirubin out of your liver and into your stool.Bilirubin, Fractionated - Measurement of the levels of bilirubin is used in the diagnosis and treatment of liver, hemolytic, hematologic, and metabolic disorders, including hepatitis and gall bladder obstructive disease.In children and adults, doctors use it to diagnose and monitor liver and bile duct diseases. These include cirrhosis, hepatitis, and gallstones.It’ll also help determine if you have sickle cell disease or other conditions that cause hemolytic anemia. That’s a disorder where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they’re made.Looking for bilirubin fractionated Test?. Use Tuhealthy App for locating quest lab near you.
