bilirubin results?

Question

i've had 3 blood tests now and one was i cant remember, the second was 52 and the 3rd was 79 which is considered WAY TOO HIGH as the doc said it should be about 21.
I have no idea what these numbers mean but it seems with each blood test the results have fluctuated.
one of the docs said its all to do with the food i eat, what does this mean? oh she also asked me if i had been abroad refering to the food they have abroad i think.

Answer 1

The abroad thing could relate to hepatitis which is more widespread abroad, and also relates to liver functions.

Answer 2

Your billirubin levels are related to liver function, and can become elevated for a number of reasons. If the levels get too high, you can get jaundice.

The questions about being abroad doesn't only relate to the food, but also the likelihood of picking up diseases while in foreign countries.

But, as always, the best person to ask about this sort of thing is your doctor. They can tell you what the numbers mean, what the causes and implications could be, and what you should do about it.

Answer 3

Hemolysis generally induces a modest elevation in plasma levels of unconjugated bilirubin (1-4 mg/dL). During acute hemolytic crises, such as those occurring in sickle cell disease or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, bilirubin production and plasma bilirubin may transiently exceed these levels. Although the plasma bilirubin level increases linearly in relation to bilirubin production, the bilirubin concentration may still be near the reference range in patients with a 50% reduction in red blood cell survival if hepatic bilirubin clearance is within the reference range.

Ineffective erythropoiesis (early labeled bilirubin [ELB] production) that is markedly increased is the basis of a rare disorder known as primary shunt hyperbilirubinemia or idiopathic dyserythropoietic jaundice.

Impaired hepatic bilirubin uptake


Congestive heart failure
Surgical/naturally occurring shunts
Drugs/contrast agents: Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to drugs/contrast agent resolves within 48 hours of discontinuing the drug

Rifampicin
Rifamycin
Probenecid
Flavaspidic acid
Bunamiodyl (cholecystographic agent)

Causes

Increased bilirubin production

Hemolysis
Dyserythropoiesis
Hematoma
Impaired hepatic bilirubin uptake

Congestive heart failure
Portosystemic shunts
Drugs - Rifamycin, rifampin, probenecid, flavaspidic acid, bunamiodyl
Impaired bilirubin conjugation

Crigler-Najjar syndrome types I and II
Gilbert syndrome (decreased uptake and/or conjugation)
Neonatal physiologic jaundice
Breast milk jaundice
Maternal serum jaundice
Hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism
Ethinyl estradiol
Liver diseases - Chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, Wilson disease (decreased uptake and conjugation)
Fasting hyperbilirubinemia - Contributed to by increased enterohepatic circulation of bilirubin and genetic factors

Answer 4

Hi

You should have really asked your doctor to explain the results too you better.

I can not make any judgement on this result alone without knowing your other results and your existing medical problems/history - sorry but we need much more detail.