Bilirubin Level Advice: I have a count of 4.3mg bilirubin, how much serious it is? Value of 4.3 mg/deciliter?

The normal level for bilirubin in the blood should not exceed 1.9 milligrams per deciliter and your levels are nearly twice that which indicate that you should be jaundiced. This can be confirmed by urine that is very yellow, yellow fecal matter, and yellow eyes. The reasons for this happening could indicate a liver function problem. In addition to these tests, you should also do a test for SGPT and SGOT levels to check for liver damage and hepatitis.

Bilirubin is a substance that is normally present in the blood and it is a result of the regular death of red blood cells in the body. When cells die, the constituent parts of the blood cells are broken down to be recycled or excreted. Bilirubin is one of these constituents and is recycled for the purpose of digestion. This recycling occurs in the liver where bilirubin is converted to bile and is converted from a blood waste product to a digestive system component. The bile is then acted upon by certain bacteria that convert it from a yellow consistency to a clay-colored matter and this is the reason why human feces are the color that it is. When there is an infection or damage to the liver, this process breaks down and bilirubin is not excreted from the blood by the liver and is instead excreted from the urine by the kidneys.

The level of the seriousness of the condition also requires some transaminase tests to be administered like the Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase or SGPT and Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase or SGOT tests. Both of these are liver enzymes and their heightened presence in the blood indicates that the walls of the liver are damaged and leaking out this enzyme. The liver can sustain damage due to various reasons like alcohol intake, physical trauma, hepatitis and drugs. None of these should be life threatening and all that is required is that you rest your liver. This includes physically resting by restricting yourself to the bed, going on a bland carbohydrate diet with proteins derived only from plant sources, absolutely no oil or fat, and no spices to be used. Hepatitis will also cause a certain amount of swelling in the liver from inflammation and this might have to be reduced by administering vitamin K injections. Hepatitis would take a whole month of bed rest before you can slowly resume regular life and activity.

answered by G M

The bilirubin count that you mention - 4.3 mg/dL - is quite high. A normal bilirubin count is usually considered to be around 0.5 mg/dL, and by around 1.5 mg/dL, skin and the whites of the eyes start to show the yellow tinge that is associated with jaundice. Your bilirubin count is over eight times the normal count, so a medical diagnosis and treatment are required immediately. This is certainly very serious, but only your doctor will be able to tell you how serious, after performing a thorough check up, investigating any other symptoms and your medical history, and perhaps performing some other tests.

Such a high bilirubin count can be caused by several conditions, including hepatitis, severe liver damage or even liver failure, and a problem in the bile duct, such as a stone or a tumor that is obstructing the duct. You have not mentioned your symptoms, and based on just the bilirubin count it is not possible to say which of these (or the other possible conditions) you may have.

You should visit a doctor immediately - all of the medical conditions mentioned above are quite serious, as indicated by your unusually high bilirubin count, and could even be fatal.

answered by G R

A value of 4.3mg/deciliter appears to be on the high side. The normal bilirubin range is 0.1 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) but may vary from lab to lab. High bilirubin values may be indicative of some kind of liver dysfunction. Here are some conditions that may cause high bilirubin values

• Gilbert's syndrome: This is a harmless genetic condition which causes high levels of bilirubin and has no effect other than a mild jaundice
• Medications
• Infections
• Hepatitis
• Gallstones
• Anemia

Please speak to your primary healthcare giver immediately to rule out any serious causes. He/she may recommend some further investigations. Please do not rely on home remedies alone at this stage. If the problem is some sort of jaundice, there are several dietary changes that you can make to avoid putting further pressure on your liver.

• Try and cook food in minimal oil and stay away from fried foods.
• It may be better to make fruits and vegetables a major part of your diet. Red meats contain too much fat. Try consuming more lean meats and trim the fat off wherever possible.
• Reduce your intake of spices and sour foods and try and take less salt as well.
• Have plenty of orange juice
• Also take barley water regularly
• Give yourself an enema whenever you feel constipated to ensure proper elimination
• Carrot juice is known to have benefits for jaundice
• 4 gms of Indian gooseberry (indian gooseberry) taken with water every day for 15-20 days helps regulate over all liver functioning..

Undertake these measures in consultation with your primary health care giver and hopefully your bilirubin values will come down in time.

answered by S E