The Role of Bilirubin in the Body

What is Bilirubin?

Produced when old red blood cells are broken down in the liver, bilirubin is a yellowish substance that is found in bile, a fluid your liver produces to help digest food. Bilirubin is transported to the liver by a protein called albumin, where it becomes conjugated, becoming water-soluble so it can be removed from the body. A healthy liver can remove the majority of bilirubin from the body, through releasing it into the bloodstream where it is sent to be eventually excreted by other organs.

What Causes Abnormal Bilirubin Levels

Liver Disease, and any other condition that causes significant damage to the liver, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, can lead to elevated bilirubin levels. Inherited conditions such as Gilbert’s syndrome can also cause higher bilirubin levels, this is a genetic condition that can cause episodes of jaundice, additionally, an overdose of paracetamol will raise bilirubin levels, alongside taking certain antibiotics, like ceftriaxone, which causes the breakdown of blood cells.

Obstructions in the bile duct can lead to a buildup of bilirubin in the liver, as the bile ducts carry bile from the liver to the small intestine, if it becomes blocked, bilirubin has no way to escape from the bloodstream. Certain Blood Disorders, such as sickle cell disease, or the inherited condition of Thalassemia, can produce red blood cells that do not live as long as normal blood cells. For Thalassemia, it is possible for haemoglobin to not be produced at all, which prevents red blood cells from functioning properly.