What Affects The Bilirubin Level?

Posted on Fri, 16 Jan 2015

Question: my bilirubin was a 1.2 but everything else normal this said it was in normal range but seems high. last time it was a .06 I hve been taking blood pressure meds since hctz and aldopinmine

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
This is a High normal Total Bilirubin.. It's not to be worried about when other testing is normal....

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

Your Total Bilirubin is a high normal. Even though it is being shown as out of range on the report. It is only significant when your other liver enzymes are as well. So don't worry about this.

I do have some specific advice for you to help you figure out what is going on and maintain a healthy Liver:

1. Get your liver enzymes checked as well. That is SGOT, SGPT, GGT and Alkaline phosphate. This will give us an idea as to what might be happening here.

2. Get a ultrasound of the abdomen done to rule out fatty liver and gall stones. They can cause altered results like this.

3. Avoid a High fat diet until the reports come, it is preferable to be on high Carb diet when you are worried about the health of your liver.

The common reasons for raised Bilirubin are hepatitis, gall stones, fatty liver and alcohol

I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (16 hours later)

ast is a 18 alt is a 21 alkaline is a 63. I had the blood work done in oct I was in the hospital and bili was a .06 this is before I was on any meds. This current blood work was done due to the fact I have to have surgery. Could this just be a bad reading? Would anything above shown up in Oct. The meds are the only difference. my dr said results were good and didn't say a word about this. I do drink a few beers a few times a week but I have always done this I have a a hernia in my chest and they mentioned moving my liver out of the way in surgery I had a CT scan done so I imagine the liver showed up, because I saw my kidneys stomach lungs and such. What else would be come back off if I had anything else wrong

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Alcohol related rise

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

The most important values in a liver function test is ast, alt and alkaline phosphatase. Total bilirubin is still within normal limits, the small rise could be secondary to alcohol, to be sure I recommend that you get a GGT done. GGT is specific for alcohol related injury to the liver. Nonetheless I agree with your doctor that you have nothing to worry about regarding the LFT, please get a repeat LFT after 4 weeks

Regards

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar