Normal results for a total bilirubin test are 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for adults and usually 1 mg/dL for those under 18. Normal results for direct bilirubin are generally 0.3 mg/dL.
What happen if bilirubin Direct is high?
Share on Pinterest High bilirubin can lead to jaundice. A high level of bilirubin in the blood is known as hyperbilirubinemia. High bilirubin levels can cause jaundice. Jaundice makes the skin and the whites of the eyes appear yellow, due to the brown and yellow bilirubin in the blood.
What is a high direct bilirubin level? It forms after red blood cells break down, and it travels through your liver, gallbladder, and digestive tract before being excreted. Typically, bilirubin levels fall somewhere between 0.3 and 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Anything above 1.2 mg/dL is usually considered high.
What does bilirubin direct mean?
In the liver, bilirubin is changed into a form that your body can get rid of. This is called conjugated bilirubin or direct bilirubin. This bilirubin travels from the liver into the small intestine. A very small amount passes into your kidneys and is excreted in your urine.
What is a bad bilirubin level?
In adults, normal bilirubin levels are less than one milligram per deciliter. High bilirubin levels are greater than 2.5 milligrams of bilirubin per deciliter. High bilirubin levels result in jaundice — a condition that causes a distinct yellow cast to the skin, the whites of eyes, and the underside of the tongue.
How do you reduce direct bilirubin?
- Drink at least eight glasses of fluids per day. …
- Consider adding milk thistle to your routine. …
- Opt for fruits like papaya and mango, which are rich in digestive enzymes.
- Eat at least 2 1/2 cups of veggies and 2 cups of fruit per day.
- Look for high-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, berries, and almonds.
What causes high direct bilirubin?
The conjugated (direct) bilirubin level is often elevated by alcohol, infectious hepatitis, drug reactions, and autoimmune disorders. Posthepatic disorders also can cause conjugated hyperbilirubinemia.
Is 25 a high bilirubin level?
Total bilirubin levels >25 mg/dL usually indicate intrahepatic cholestasis. The following table may help to differentiate the various causes of jaundice. In adults, jaundice develops in 70% of cases of acute hepatitis A, 33 – 50% of cases of acute hepatitis B and 20 – 33% of cases of acute hepatitis C.
Is 13 a high bilirubin level?
John A. Widness, MD Since 97% of term babies have serum bilirubin values <13 mg/dl, all infants with a serum bilirubin level >13 mg/dl require a minimum work up.
Can high bilirubin be treated?
There are no drugs to specifically treat increased bilirubin levels, unless there is an infection, blockage or tumor. Treatment is aimed at correcting the underlying cause of increased bilirubin levels, and minimizing further damage to your liver, if damage is present.
What can increase direct bilirubin?
- Anemia.
- Cirrhosis.
- A reaction to a blood transfusion.
- Gilbert syndrome — a common, inherited condition in which there is a deficiency of an enzyme that helps to break down bilirubin.
- Viral hepatitis.
- A reaction to drugs.
- Alcoholic liver disease.
- Gallstones.
Is 20 a high bilirubin level?
Half of babies have some jaundice. Usually it is mild. The level of bilirubin that is harmful is around 20. Reaching a level this high is rare.
What is direct bilirubin low?
In healthy people, direct bilirubin is very low, because it’s rapidly moved into the bile. Levels increase when the liver function becomes compromised. Therefore, increased direct bilirubin is usually a sign of liver diseases, such as viral or autoimmune hepatitis, or alcoholic liver disease [29, 30, 31].
Is 30 a high bilirubin level?
In Australia, the normal range for total bilirubin on a blood test is between 3 and 20 micromoles/litre. A bilirubin of 20 or more on a blood test will be marked as high. Jaundice may occur when the blood total bilirubin reaches a level roughly between 35 and 50 micromoles/litre.
Is 15 a high bilirubin level?
Phototherapy should be instituted when the total serum bilirubin level is at or above 15 mg per dL (257 mol per L) in infants 25 to 48 hours old, 18 mg per dL (308 mol per L) in infants 49 to 72 hours old, and 20 mg per dL (342 mol per L) in infants older than 72 hours.
Can stress cause high bilirubin levels?
Bilirubin levels may increase with stress, strain, dehydration, fasting, infection or exposure to cold. In many individuals, jaundice is only evident when one of these triggers raises the bilirubin levels.