What causes elevated bilirubin?

Answer 1

High levels of bilirubin in the blood may be caused by: infection, such as of the gall bladder; inherited diseases, such as Gilbertâ??s syndrome; disease that cause liver damage, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or mono; and diseases that block the bile ducts such as gall stones or pancreatic cancer. High levels can also be caused by the rapid destruction of red blood cells, such as from sickle cell disease or a reaction to a blood transfusion. Certain medicines can also cause a rise in the levels of bilirubin.

Answer 2

High bilirubin is caused by the liver not processing things properly. High bilirubin is also called jaundice. In infants, high bilirubin is not uncommon. It will either go away by itself in a few days, or it can be treated with light. My son had high bilirubin right after he was born. He was home 4 hours from the hospital when we had to take him back to the emergency room and then he was put in an incubator for treatment. He was in the incubator for four days. All they did was keep his eyes covered (incredibly important!) and the incubator had lights on the top to keep it warm and to help his body metabolize the bilirubin. He was released and then we treated him at home with our own lights. He is eleven years old now and as healthy as a horse. The liver just doesn't metabolize bilirubin properly, so it builds up in the blood and the body and it makes the skin look yellow.
It is mostly cause by infected water. There are other reasons as well, like over exercise, drug and alcohol abuse.

Answer 3

High bilirubin means that there is a hemolysis of the hemoblogin freeing the iron and the bilirubin which is evident in the blood test and in the urine test. FActors may be internally acquired or can be an inborn defect too. Some disease states that may reveal high bilirubin states may incluse hemolytic anemias or liver diseases such as hepatic carcinoma and cirrhosis of the liver and other severe hepatic defects or syndromes.

Answer 4

Elevated bilirubin levels can be caused by conditions such as liver disease (e.g. hepatitis, cirrhosis), bile duct obstruction (e.g. gallstones), hemolytic anemia, or certain medications. It can also be a result of excessive breakdown of red blood cells or inherited disorders affecting bilirubin metabolism.

Answer 5

excessive breakdown of red blood cells e.g sickle cell anaemia

deranged liver function e.g cirrhosis

obstruction to the bile duct e.g gallstones