blood test (Bilirubin)

[ashika001]

Hello, I recently had blood biochemistry report done and had the strange results of high d. bilirubin and indirect bilirubin (direct bilirubin, I presume) and normal total bilirubin. My results for the whole hepatic panels are as follows:

Total bilirubin          10.4 mg / dl
Direct bilirubin        5.4 mg / dl
indirect bilirubin      5 mg / dl
ALT (SGPT)          138
hemoglobin            10.3 gm. / dl.

My direct bilirubin has consistently been high - I had blood work done yesterday (the results above), a week ago,  and ALL showed high direct bilirubin. Any ideas as to what could be causing it? I also got bloodwork done if any of those results would be helpful, THANKS!

[Dee1956]

Hi I found some information re high bilirubin as I am not knowledgeable.  I do see your hemoglobin is low and your ALT is about 4 times what it should be. Has you doctor advised you to get further testing?  I hope this will help you.  I think you need to see doctor that specializes in the liver.
Good luck to you.  Another member wrote this in response to another person who had high bilirubin.  Good luck

The blood test for Bilirubin is a test that is used to measure how a person's liver is functioning. Any high level of bilirubin in the lab results should be investigated further, as it indicates the liver is not functioning normally.

"How is liver function measured?

Albumin and bilirubin, and prothrombin time are more truely measures of liver function, but clinical factors must be considered as well.

Bilirubin

Serum total bilirubin is increased in hepatocellular damage (infectious hepatitis, alcoholic and other toxic hepatopathy, neoplasms), intra- and extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction, intravascular and extravascular hemolysis, physiologic neonatal jaundice, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Gilbert's disease, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, and fructose intolerance.

Disproportionate elevation of direct (conjugated) bilirubin is seen in cholestasis (any condition in which the flow of bile from the liver is blocked) and late in the course of chronic liver disease. Indirect (unconjugated) bilirubin tends to predominate in hemolysis and Gilbert's disease.

Decreased serum total bilirubin is probably not of clinical significance but has been observed in iron deficiency anemia.

What Is Bilirubin?

Bilirubin is a breakdown product of hemaglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Normally when blood cells become old they are trapped and destroyed by the spleen. When this occurs, the hemaglobin must be broken down in the liver to bilirubin in order to be disposed of. Bilirubin is eventually excreted in the bile and leaves the body in the feces.

What Is The Normal Level Of Bilirubin?

The normal level depends on the individual laboratory. Most laboratories consider a level of 1.1 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or lower to be normal.

What Happens When The Bilirubin Is Too High?

When the bilirubin level reaches about 3 mg/dl the white parts of the eyes become yellow ("icterus"), the urine becomes dark, and the skin becomes yellow ("jaundice"). Patients with high levels of bilirubin also experience itching."

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/hcv/labs/lft.html