Thanks to those of you that replied. Apart from the jaundice which is usually a syptom of Hep what am I looking at? Is it treatable? Is it an indication of another form of Hep?
Bill: you mentioned blockage of the biliary tract, not exactly sure what that means or the effects on my health.
What Is Bilirubin?
Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemaglobin, the substance in blood that carries oxygen. Normally when blood cells become old they are trapped and destroyed by the spleen. When this occurs, the hemaglobin must be broken down in the liver to bilirubin in order to be disposed of. Bilirubin is eventually excreted in the bile and leaves the body in the feces.
What Is The Normal Level Of Bilirubin?
The normal level depends on the individual laboratory. Most laboratories consider a level of 1.1 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or lower to be normal.
What Happens When The Bilirubin Is Too High?
When the bilirubin level reaches about 3 mg/dl the white parts of the eyes become yellow ("icterus"), the urine becomes dark, and the skin becomes yellow ("jaundice"). Patients with high levels of bilirubin also experience itching.
I have the same level as you .I havent treated yet...waiting for the new meds.My eyes are fine,I just thought youd like to read this. cindy
Quest diagnostics lists a reference range for total bilirubin as 0.2-1.5. If it were me, I’d call my GI or hepatologist and discuss this result with them, to see if they want to pursue it. You might have some blockage of the biliary tract or similar. Are you seeing any yellowing of the white portion of the eyes at this point?
“Jaundice, (also known as icterus, attributive adjective: icteric) is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae (whites of the eyes), and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia (increased levels of bilirubin in the blood). This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluids. Typically, the concentration of bilirubin in the plasma must exceed 1.5 mg/dL[1] ( > 35 micromoles/L), three times the usual value of approximately 0.5 mg/dL[1], for the coloration to be easily visible. Jaundice comes from the French word jaune, meaning yellow.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaundice
I don’t think you should be experiencing elevated bilirubin as a result of your HCV, especially considering your now SVR. Good luck, and let us know how it goes—
Bill