It’s usually processed in the liver and gallbladder, and leaves the body in urine and stool.
That’s because bilirubin is a brownish-yellow color.
Symptoms
The excessive buildup of bilirubin can cause jaundice.
Oktay Ortakcioglu/E+ / Getty Images
These include:
Having high bilirubin levels can be dangerous and can lead to complications, especially in newborns.
Jaundice is a symptom of high bilirubin levels, which may indicate an underlying health condition.
Keep in mind that high bilirubin levels may occur without any symptoms.
Causes
Certain health conditions can lead to high bilirubin levels.
Medications and Bilirubin
Some drugs can impair liver function and cause high bilirubin levels.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you are using medications or supplements that may affect liver health.
Its also more common in breastfed babies.
The indirect (unconjugated) bilirubin levels can be inferred from the total and direct bilirubin values.
Although labs may use different reference ranges, there are generally accepted normal levels.
What Is a Dangerously High Bilirubin Level?
In newborns, a bilirubin level above 25 mg/dL is considered dangerously high.
If your bilirubin levels are high, your healthcare provider will need to identify the underlying cause.
Keep in mind that hyperbilirubinemia itself is not a disease and needs to be investigated.
Treatment can include different strategies:
Sometimes, hyperbilirubinemia may not require specific treatment.
For example, symptoms of acute viral hepatitis typically go away on their own as the infection resolves.
The same applies to Gilbert’s syndrome, which is not considered harmful and does not require treatment.
Treatment for Hyperbilirubinemia in Newborns
Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia may not require treatment if the jaundice is mild.
For moderate to severe cases, treatment may involve:
Treatment for any underlying cause also is needed.
Too much bilirubin causes jaundicea yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
High bilirubin occurs in newborns because their body is not yet efficient at removing bilirubin.
Treatments include light therapy, IV immunoglobulin, or a blood transfusion.
In older children and adults, high bilirubin can indicate a problem with the liver or gallbladder.
It can also be because of medication.
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