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What Is The Bilirubin Level In Jaundice Patients?
Hello, my 13 year-old daughter had a routine yearly blood test related to a kidney procedure she had 5 years ago. Everything came back fine, except her bilirubin level, which is at 1.1. Her nephrologist wants to schedule for further testing next week. Is this warranted given that 1.2 is the normal level for adults and 1.0 for children? Is 0.1 that big a deal? Isn t it within normal ranges of lab error? She has no symptoms of jaundice at all and feels perfectly fine.
Fri, 5 Jul 2019
Hello,
Well, jaundice is just a sign and not diseases, and treatment depends on the exact cause. Jaundice is usually a sign of certain liver disease and high bilirubin value.
Causes of jaundice vary from non-serious to potentially fatal. Levels of bilirubin in blood are normally below 1.0 mg/dL (17 µmol/L) and levels over 2-3 mg/dL (34-51 µmol/L) typically results in jaundice.
High bilirubin may be due to liver diseases such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, infections, medications, or blockage of the bile duct In the developed world the cause is more often blockage of the bile duct or medications.
Blockage of the bile duct may occur due to gallstones, cancer, or pancreatitis. Medical imaging such as ultrasound is useful for detecting bile duct blockage.
Treatment of jaundice is typically determined by the underlying cause. If a bile duct blockage is a present surgery is typically required, otherwise, management is medical.
Medical management may involve treating infectious causes and stopping the medication that could be contributing.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon
Well, jaundice is just a sign and not diseases, and treatment depends on the exact cause. Jaundice is usually a sign of certain liver disease and high bilirubin value.
Causes of jaundice vary from non-serious to potentially fatal. Levels of bilirubin in blood are normally below 1.0 mg/dL (17 µmol/L) and levels over 2-3 mg/dL (34-51 µmol/L) typically results in jaundice.
High bilirubin may be due to liver diseases such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, infections, medications, or blockage of the bile duct In the developed world the cause is more often blockage of the bile duct or medications.
Blockage of the bile duct may occur due to gallstones, cancer, or pancreatitis. Medical imaging such as ultrasound is useful for detecting bile duct blockage.
Treatment of jaundice is typically determined by the underlying cause. If a bile duct blockage is a present surgery is typically required, otherwise, management is medical.
Medical management may involve treating infectious causes and stopping the medication that could be contributing.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon
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