Bilirubin is an orange-yellow compound produced as a result of red blood cell breakdown. Increased bilirubin levels are found in liver cirrhosis and cancer, jaundice, autoimmune hepatitis, biliary cholangitis, gall stones, Gilbert's syndrome, bile duct inflammation, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, etc. Apart from these, symptoms of illness like fatigue, abdominal pain, fever, chest pain, chills, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, etc., also cause elevated bilirubin levels.
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Query: Hello doctor, Two years back, I was diagnosed with antral gastritis after taking painkillers for my tooth pain. I lost 28.66 Ibs weight (from 163.14 to 134.48 Ibs) and felt more anemic because I followed a diet that avoided milk, non-vegetarian dishes, chilies, citrus fruits, etc. I also took some h... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. I have gone through your reports and it is suggestive of gastritis only. Due to that, your food is not getting digested properly. When food is not digested it leads to an elevation in bilirubin. I would suggest you take syrup Hepamerz (L Orn... Read Full »
What could be the cause for elevated levels of bilirubin?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 50-year-old male, slim, and quite health conscious. Today I had a package blood test done. Other things are fine but in LFT total bilirubin is 1.47, direct bilirubin is 0.22, and indirect bilirubin is 1.25. SGPT and SGOT are normal. All other parameters are normal. I do not have... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. You do not have any complaints. 1. Total bilirubin 1.4 2. Direct bilirubin 0.22. 3. Indirect bilirubin 1.25. Only total bilirubin is slightly elevated. For some people, if no complaints, this mild increase is common. So, you need not worry. Read Full »
My cholesterol goes up despite healthy eating and exercise. Why?
Query: Hi doctor, I recently had a full blood count done and would like a second opinion on the results. It was my cholesterol which surprised me. I have never suffered from high cholesterol but over the past three years, it has kept up and recent tests showed: Serum cholesterol -270.27 mg/dL HDL - 48.26 ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern. I have gone through the reports you have attached (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Yes, your cholesterol is high especially LDL. This is more worrisome. Cholesterol runs in family. So, despite a healthy lifestyle, some pat... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor,I am suffering from weakness, discomfort, weight reduction, and digestion problems. My bilirubin has also increased. Why so?Please help. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for writing and I understand your concern. These symptoms like indigestion and weakness are due to increased levels of bilirubin. It causes jaundice-like symptoms so I would suggest you follow the instructions mentioned below. 1. Take a syrup of Hepa Merz (... Read Full »
What test should I undergo to rule out liver cirrhosis?
Query: Hello doctor, I am very concerned about my liver. I have a history of alcohol use of approximately two to four beers per night, approximately five nights per week for nearly 20 years. I am under total abstinence for the past one year. My symptoms are aching pain in the back on the right side under... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Given the amount of alcohol that you are taking and the duration you have taken, it is likely that you can develop cirrhosis. But the development of cirrhosis is a gradual process, and it takes a long time before it is evident on the tests. Fibroscan is a useful modali... Read Full »
Why does the bilirubin level keep changing in my 12-days-old son?
Query: Hi doctor, I am really concerned with the bilirubin levels of my 12 days old son. His bilirubin was 14.2 within 24 hours of his birth, so the doctor decided to start phototherapy, which reduced the bilirubin level to 12 and he got discharged. After a day, he turned pale yellow, so we rushed again to... Read Full »
Answer: Hi,Welcome to icliniq.com.I understand that you are upset with your baby's condition. Your baby has ABO incompatibility (mother O and baby A blood group) induced exaggerated NNJ (neonatal jaundice). It is a condition where there will be an excessive breakdown of baby's red blood cells than co... Read Full »
How can I bring down my bilirubin levels?
Query: Hello doctor, My bilirubin level is 1.7 (mg/dl), but I do not have any symptoms of jaundice. How can I bring the bilirubin level to normal? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Well, there are certain medications that can bring bilirubin down but your bilirubin is 1.7 (mg/dl) which is within normal limits. It does not require any treatment. The possible cause of asymptomatic small raised bilirubin is Gilbert syndrome which is completely ha... Read Full »
Other than hepatitis, what can cause increased bilirubin levels?
Query: Hello doctor, I have jaundice. My biliurubin was 7.5 three weeks ago. I went to the doctor for jaundice. Weekly blood tests as of three weeks show bilirubin has been increasing. Hep test shows I do not have hepatitis. Ultrasound says no tumor bile duct coverage or stones. I took a CT scan and the r... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Well, your US (ultrasound) and CT (computed tomography) scan are normal which is kind of satisfying to me. Of course you suppose to have more blood tests to confirm the origin of this jaundice. Hepatitis, although common, but they are not the only one to cause live... Read Full »
What could be the reason for stomach problem and increased bilirubin levels with normal LFT?
Query: Hello doctor, I am 36 years old. I am a vegetarian and I weigh about 160.9 lbs. Before three years due to stomach disturbance, yellowish urine, pain and some popup and cracker sound in my legs knee joints, I visited a doctor and he suggests me lab test of liver function test and all reports in norma... Read Full »
Dr. Patel Hirenkumar Prakashbhai
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I had gone through your all reports. (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Nothing looks like alarming except slightly low vitamin D levels. For yellow urine, I assure you it is totally insignificant as your all liver related test are normal including ... Read Full »
Why is my bilirubin level a bit higher?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 29-year-old male, weigh 198.4 lbs , height is 5 feet 9 inches, non-smoker, non-alcohol drinker. I do not have any symptoms or signs, normal eye, and skin color. I am taking Cipralex 15 mg for the past one year. Had a history of bladder stone and it required admission for one wee... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. If Mmol means micron mol, then it is fine (attachment removed to protect patient identity). It looks like a normal variant of hyperbilirubinemia. Most common cause of the condition is hemolysis, Gilbert syndrome is also a common cause of such a situation. In both the co... Read Full »