Know Bilirubin and Causes of Increased Bilirubin Amount

Bilirubin is a substance that is formed normally from the process of decomposition of red blood cells in the body. This substance is what gives the stool and urine yellow. Although formed normally, sometimes there are certain diseases that cause the amount of bilirubin to increase. If left untreated, this condition can cause serious health problems. To determine the level of bilirubin in the body, blood tests are needed. Normal total bilirubin levels in adults are around 0.2 to 1.2 mg / dL (milligrams per deciliter), whereas in children under 18 years is 1 mg / dL. If it rises slightly, it does not necessarily indicate that there is an abnormality. However, if the increase in bilirubin levels is high enough to more than 2 mg / dl, then there is most likely a medical condition or certain underlying disease.

Causes of Increased Bilirubin Amount

The increased amount of bilirubin in the blood can occur due to many reasons, including:

1. Liver disorders

The amount of bilirubin can increase due to damage to the liver or liver. In the body, bilirubin will be processed and stored in the bile. When there is damage to the liver, for example in hepatitis and cirrhosis, bilirubin levels can increase.

2. Diseases of the bile

Gallbladder is an organ that functions to store bile. In this bile, bilirubin will be stored. Therefore, if bile is attacked by diseases, such as gallstones, narrowing of the bile duct, inflammation or infection of the gallbladder (and bile tumors, then bilirubin can increase in number. In addition, damage to other organs around the bile, for example in pancreatic cancer and inflammation of the pancreas, can also cause increased bilirubin.

3. Damage to red blood cells

Conditions that make red blood cells damaged faster, such as sickle cell anemia and hemolytic anemia, can cause the amount of bilirubin to increase dramatically. In infants and fetuses in the womb, bilirubin levels can increase due to a condition called erythroblastosis fetalis. This disease causes the baby's blood cells to be destroyed because they are damaged by the mother's immune system. In addition, in people who have just received a blood transfusion, bilirubin levels can increase if the blood received does not match the body.

4. Side effects of drugs

There are several types of drugs that can cause side effects in the form of increased levels of bilirubin. These drugs include antibiotics, corticosteroids, birth control pills, indomethacin, and anticonvulsant drugs, such as diazepam, flurazepam, and phenytoin. In certain cases, supplements or certain herbal medicines can also cause increased bilirubin levels. In addition to the above medical conditions, bilirubin levels in the blood can also increase due to severe infections, thyroid disorders, and genetic disorders, such as Gilbert's syndrome, hereditary hemochromatosis, Rotor's syndrome, and Criggler-Najjar's syndrome.

High Bilirubin Impact

If high bilirubin levels in the blood, the body will experience jaundice (jaundice). Jaundice is characterized by yellowing eyes and skin accompanied by itching. Not only in adults, too much bilirubin in newborns is also dangerous. High bilirubin levels in newborns are usually characterized by yellowing skin that appears on the face and forehead first, then spreads to the chest and other body parts. In addition, babies may also experience lethargy, crying constantly, or even seizures. If not treated immediately, high bilirubin levels in infants can cause brain damage (kernicterus), nerve problems, to death. Therefore, yellow babies need special care to reduce levels of bilirubin in their blood. One treatment is phototherapy. Well, from the above information it can be concluded that the increased levels of bilirubin, especially those that already cause symptoms of jaundice, are conditions that need to be immediately consulted by a doctor. In determining the diagnosis, the doctor will conduct a physical and supportive examination, such as a blood test to assess the levels of bilirubin and ultrasound of the liver and bile. After ascertained bilirubin levels are ascertained, the doctor can seek treatment in accordance with the causative factors.