Each person at least once in his life met the term “bilirubin in the blood”, passing tests in a clinic or hospital. But few people understand how great the value of this indicator is.
Bilirubin is the main pigment, bile, yellow-red in color, formed during the breakdown of hemoglobin. This determines the yellow color of the bruises on the third day and the skin with jaundice.
The total amount of bilirubin contains two fractions - direct and indirect, each of which has its own meaning. When hemoglobin, myoglobin, and other blood proteins are destroyed by special reticuloendothelial cells, an indirect or free fraction is released, which then enters the liver and binds to glucuronic acid, turning into a bound or direct fraction.
Normal values (according to Iendrashek): total bilirubin - 8.5-20.5 μmol / l, direct - 0-5.1 μmol / l. Pregnant women in the third trimester and newborns of the first month of life have a physiological increase in pigment.
The level of bilirubin is determined quite simply. On an empty stomach (not earlier than 8 hours after the last meal), the patient donates
blood from a vein. In this case, it is necessary to refuse to take medication, alcohol, fatty foods, or from heavy physical exertion. During the study, a diazoreaktiv is added to the blood, after which the bound fraction is colored pink - this is a direct reaction. And the free fraction does not react, so an organic solvent is added to the test tube, which makes it possible to release it - this is an indirect reaction. A blood test for bilirubin will be ready within a day.
If bilirubin in the blood exceeds the level of 27 μmol / L, jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) develops, which is manifested by yellowness of the skin, sclera and mucous membranes. In addition, patients may experience a rapid heartbeat, fever, and dark urine. There may be complaints of discomfort in the left hypochondrium, headaches, general weakness.
Elevated bilirubin in the blood may be due to one of the following main reasons:
- If the outflow of bile is impaired (for example, gallstone disease).
- If the secretion of direct bilirubin into bile is impaired.
- If there are liver diseases that affect bilirubin metabolism.
- If an insufficient number of enzymes responsible for the conversion of bilirubin is secreted, or their function is impaired.
- If the number of decaying red blood cells exceeds the norm (for example, hemolytic anemia).
There are 3 degrees of severity of jaundice:
- Light - bilirubin in the blood does not exceed 85 μmol / L.
- The average is 86-169 μmol / L.
- Heavy - more than 170 micromol / l.
With an increased level of bilirubin, the doctor prescribes treatment! First of all, it will depend on the cause of the identified pathology. The first step in treatment is diet. The patient should completely exclude food that is “heavy” for the liver: fried, salted, smoked, fatty, alcoholic, spicy, etc. It is also necessary to limit the amount of salt, coffee and bread. At the same time, the intake of liquid and cereal cereals should be increased in the diet.
Of the herbs suitable are chamomile, St. John's wort, motherwort, mint, rose hip, birch leaves. They are used separately and in mixtures in the form of infusions on water. They are in addition to the main treatment.
Depending on the causes of the pathology, the doctor may prescribe a number of medications that help normalize the level of bilirubin, support the liver, cleanse the intestines and increase the protective properties of the body.
Bilirubin in the blood is an important diagnostic indicator of a number of diseases of the digestive system. It helps to identify pathology, even if there are no symptoms, therefore it is included in the examination of any patient.