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1084115 tn?1385228589

high bilirubin

hello,

over the last months my bilirubin was always between 12 and 20 umol.
but now its up to 30,all other labs like inr platelets,albumin are normal.
does this high level mean my liver is starting to decompensate?
iam very scared and my doc is out of office today.

appreciate some opinions
Marc
4 Responses
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317787 tn?1473358451
here is another answer I found by clicking on the magnifying glass at the top of the page, I typed in high bilirubin, this was an answer Hector gave, sorry for all the messages, I hope they help

The blood test for Bilirubin is a test that is used to measure how a person's liver is functioning. Any high level of bilirubin in the lab results should be investigated further, as it indicates the liver is not functioning normally.

"How is liver function measured?

Albumin and bilirubin, and prothrombin time are more truely measures of liver function, but clinical factors must be considered as well.

Bilirubin

Serum total bilirubin is increased in hepatocellular damage (infectious hepatitis, alcoholic and other toxic hepatopathy, neoplasms), intra- and extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction, intravascular and extravascular hemolysis, physiologic neonatal jaundice, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Gilbert's disease, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, and fructose intolerance.

Disproportionate elevation of direct (conjugated) bilirubin is seen in cholestasis (any condition in which the flow of bile from the liver is blocked) and late in the course of chronic liver disease. Indirect (unconjugated) bilirubin tends to predominate in hemolysis and Gilbert's disease.

Decreased serum total bilirubin is probably not of clinical significance but has been observed in iron deficiency anemia.

What Is Bilirubin?

Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemaglobin, the substance in red blood cells 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."

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/hcv/labs/lft.html
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Hi I just found this from a post of Hector

0.3-1.0 mg/dL or 5.0-17.0 mmol/L are about the normal levels for most labs.

Looking for more information
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Rex I am sorry you did not get an answer, I just saw this, I hope your doctor was able to answer your question.
I hope you are doing well.

If I had seen I would have said that when you treat your numbers can go up and down.  It is just the nature of treating

I hope you are well
Dee
Helpful - 0
1084115 tn?1385228589
i forgot the direkt bilirubin, its 3.9 umol.
Helpful - 0
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