Is it harmful if indirect bilirubin is slightly elevated?
Disease description:
My sister's lab results showed a slight elevation in indirect bilirubin during her physical exam. She is somewhat worried that this might indicate poor health. Is a slightly high indirect bilirubin level something to be concerned about?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Chao
Slightly elevated indirect bilirubin can damage liver cells and severely impair the central nervous system. Bilirubin elevation usually has an underlying cause, commonly associated with staying up late, fatigue, alcohol intoxication, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and certain inherited liver disorders. Common causes such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C should be ruled out. If tests for these are negative, the condition may be congenital non-hemolytic jaundice. This is due to先天性 enzyme deficiencies affecting the liver cells' uptake, conjugation, and excretion of bilirubin, and typically does not require treatment.
