What does it mean when total bilirubin is high?
Disease description:
During a liver examination, my doctor mentioned that my total bilirubin level is high. I would like to ask the doctor, what does it mean if total bilirubin is elevated?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Elevated total bilirubin levels may be caused by various factors, mainly including:
1. Physiological factors: such as physiological jaundice in newborns, excessive alcohol consumption, or intense physical activity before testing, which may lead to a transient increase in total bilirubin.
2. Disease-related factors: liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, as well as biliary tract diseases such as cholecystitis and gallstones, can all cause elevated total bilirubin levels. These conditions may affect bilirubin metabolism and excretion, leading to its accumulation in the body.
3. Other factors: such as transfusion reactions due to blood type incompatibility or hemolytic diseases, which may also result in increased total bilirubin levels.
If you have any concerns or symptoms, please seek medical attention promptly and follow your doctor's advice.
