Confused

[crown805]

I got my pcr test back today.
ast 26
alt 18
bilirumin direct (i think)  0.3
Bilirubin  3.4

She said my bilirubin was high.  But my test for hep. c was negative.  I tested positive for hep c antibodies test.  What would cause the elevated levels of bilirubin?  Is there a chance i still have hep c even tho she told me i came back negative?

[Bill1954]

If you tested negative to an HCV RNA test, then you do not have to worry about HCV.

[newleaf09]

From wikipedia:

"Mild rises in bilirubin may be caused by:

Hemolysis or increased breakdown of red blood cells
Gilbert's syndrome - a genetic disorder of bilirubin metabolism which can result in mild jaundice, found in about 5% of the population

Moderate rise in bilirubin may be caused by:

Drugs (especially antipsychotic, some sex hormones, and a wide range of other drugs)
Hepatitis (levels may be moderate or high)
Chemotherapy
Biliary stricture (benign or malignant) "

You have a mild rise in bilirubin (upper range of 'normal' is about 1.2).  Hepatitis and liver damage are not the only increasers of bilirubin.  Could be related to something breaking down too many red blood cells, perhaps a drug.  Look up everything you commonly take and look for hemolysis (breakdown of red cells) as a side effect.  Could also be a bile duct problem.  Ultra sound might show an enlargement of the bile duct.  

That may not be enough of an increase to set off an entire doctor dance, but I'd do whatever investigation I could on my own and keep an eye on it.

[crown805]

You have all been so helpful through this thank you.  My health care provider will never give me straight foward answers.  Since i tested negative on the pcr am i still contagous?  Could i give this to my partner through sex?  Is there a chance that the disease could become active in the future? Since the bilirubin was high do you reccomend a retest?

[newleaf09]

Negative PCR means they looked hard for the virus RNA with a sophisticated test and they did not find it.  If you have the antibodies for HCV that showed up in the HCV screening test, you had the virus at one time and were one of the lucky 20% whose immune system cleared it all on its own.  You absolutely do not have the virus anymore, shown by the fact that they could not find it with the PCR test.  You are not contagious and never will be, ever.  You'll have the antbodies forever, showing that you once had the disease and the antibodies formed to help fight it off.  You keep antibodies to former infections for a very long time.

Start looking for other causes of the high bilirubin.  You do not have HCV.