Bilirubin - blood

Answer 1

Definition

Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid produced by the liver.

This article discusses the laboratory test done to measure bilirubin in the blood. Total and direct bilirubin are usually measured to screen for or to monitor liver or gallbladder problems. Large amounts of bilirubin in the body can lead to jaundice.

A test may also be done to measure bilirubin in a urine sample. For information on that test, see: Bilirubin - urine.

Alternative Names

Total bilirubin - blood; Unconjugated bilirubin - blood; Indirect bilirubin - blood; Conjugated bilirubin - blood; Direct bilirubin - blood

How the test is performed

A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture.

The laboratory specialist spins the blood in a machine called a centrifuge, which separates the liquid part of the blood (serum) from the cells. The bilirubin test is done on the serum.

How to prepare for the test

You should not eat or drink for at least 4 hours before the test. Your health care provider may instruct you to stop taking drugs that affect the test.

Drugs that can increase bilirubin measurements include allopurinol, anabolic steroids, some antibiotics, antimalaria medications, azathioprine, chlorpropamide, cholinergics, codeine, diuretics, epinephrine, meperidine, methotrexate, methyldopa, MAO inhibitors, morphine, nicotinic acid, Birth Control pills, phenothiazines, quinidine, rifampin, steroids, sulfonamides, and theophylline.

Drugs that can decrease bilirubin measurements include barbiturates, caffeine, penicillin, and high-dose salicylates such as aspirin.

Why the test is performed

This test is useful in determining if a patient has liver disease or a blocked bile duct.

Bilirubin metabolism begins with the breakdown of red blood cells in many parts of the body. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is broken down to heme and globin. Heme is converted to bilirubin, which is then carried by albumin in the blood to the liver.

In the liver, most of the bilirubin is chemically attached to another molecule before it is released in the bile. This "conjugated" (attached) bilirubin is called direct bilirubin; unconjugated bilirubin is called indirect bilirubin. Total serum bilirubin equals direct bilirubin plus indirect bilirubin.

Conjugated bilirubin is released into the bile by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, or transferred directly to the small intestines. Bilirubin is further broken down by bacteria in the intestines, and those breakdown products contribute to the color of the feces. A small percentage of these breakdown compounds are taken in again by the body, and eventually appear in the urine.

Normal Values

• Direct bilirubin: 0 to 0.3 mg/dL
• Total bilirubin: 0.3 to 1.9 mg/dL

Note: mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter

Normal values may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory.

What abnormal results mean

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the white part of the eye, which occurs when bilirubin builds up in the blood at a level greater than approximately 2.5 mg/dL. Jaundice occurs because red blood cells are being broken down too fast for the liver to process. This might happen due to liver disease or bile duct blockage.

If the bile ducts are blocked, direct bilirubin will build up, escape from the liver, and end up in the blood. If the levels are high enough, some of it will appear in the urine. Only direct bilirubin appears in the urine. Increased direct bilirubin usually means that the biliary (liver secretion) ducts are obstructed.

Increased indirect or total bilirubin may be a sign of:

• Crigler-Najjar syndrome
• Erythroblastosis fetalis
• Gilbert's disease
• Healing of a large hematoma (bruise or bleeding under the skin)
• Hemolytic anemia
• Hemolytic disease of the newborn
• Hepatitis
• Physiological jaundice (normal in newborns)
• Sickle cell anemia
• Transfusion reaction
• Pernicious anemia

Increased direct bilirubin may indicate:

• Bile duct obstruction
• Cirrhosis
• Dubin-Johnson syndrome (very rare)
• Hepatitis
• Intrahepatic cholestasis (buildup of bile in the liver) due to any cause

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• Biliary stricture
• Cholangiocarcinoma
• Cholangitis
• Choledocholithiasis
• Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Idiopathic aplastic anemia
• Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• Immune hemolytic anemia (including drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia)
• Secondary aplastic anemia
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Wilson's disease

Special considerations

Factors that interfere with bilirubin testing are:

• Hemolysis (breakdown) of blood will falsely increase bilirubin levels
• Lipids in the blood will falsely decrease bilirubin levels
• Bilirubin is light-sensitive; it breaks down in light

References

Berk PD, Korenblat KM. Approach to the patient with jaundice or abnormal liver test results. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 150.

Answer 2

Definition

Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver.

This article discusses the laboratory test that is done to measure bilirubin in the blood.

A small amount of older red blood cells are replaced by new blood cells every day. Bilirubin is left after these older blood cells are removed. The liver helps break down bilirubin so that it can be removed by the body in the stool.

See also: Bilirubin - urine

Alternative Names

Total bilirubin - blood; Unconjugated bilirubin - blood; Indirect bilirubin - blood; Conjugated bilirubin - blood; Direct bilirubin - blood

How the test is performed

A blood sample is needed. For information on how this is done, see: Venipuncture

How to prepare for the test

You should not eat or drink for at least 4 hours before the test. Your health care provider may instruct you to stop taking drugs that affect the test.

Many drugs may change the bilirubin levels in your blood. Make sure your doctor knows which medications you are taking.

Why the test is performed

Large amounts of bilirubin in the blood can lead to jaundice. Jaundice is a yellow color in the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes.

Jaundice is the most common reason to check bilirubin levels.

• Most newborns have some jaundice. The doctor or nurse will often check the newborn's bilirubin level. See: Newborn jaundice
• The test may also be done in older infants, children, and adults who develop jaundice.

A bilirubin test will also be done if your doctor thinks you may have liver or gallbladder problems.

Normal Values

It is normal to have some bilirubin in your blood. Normal levels are:

• Direct (also called conjugated) bilirubin: 0 to 0.3 mg/dL
• Total bilirubin: 0.3 to 1.9 mg/dL

Note: mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

What abnormal results mean

In newborns, bilirubin levels are higher for the first few days of life. Your child's doctor must consider the following when deciding whether your baby's bilirubin levels are too high:

• How fast the level has been rising
• Whether the baby was born early
• How old the baby is

Jaundice can also occur when more red blood cells than normal are broken down. This can be caused by:

• Erythroblastosis fetalis
• Hemolytic anemia
• Transfusion reaction

The following liver problems may also cause jaundice or high bilirubin levels:

• Cirrhosis(scarring of the liver)
• Hepatitis
• Gilbert's disease

The following problems with gallbladder or bile ducts may cause higher bilirubin levels:

• Biliary stricture
• Cancer of the pancreas or gallbladder
• Gallstones

References

Berk PD, Korenblat KM. Approach to the patient with jaundice or abnormal liver test results. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 150.

Pratt DS. Liver chemistry and function tests. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:chap 73.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 02/20/2011

David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.