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Gilbert Syndrome

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Question: Diagnosed Gilbert Syndrome, but do i really have it? I mean could there be any other possibilities why i have raised billirubin levels in my blood? was a sky high result of 79, when its meant to be 20 or something on average. I had the blood test, but would the information actually show that i have GS due to being deficient in the enzyme that helps break it down or is the doctor assuming this because of the raised bilirubin levels? I'm not sure how he reads the results. Supposing a more thorough investigation was taken?

Answer: There are other reasons for high bilirubin, but these usually show up in routine blood tests. One cause can be liver problems, but usually some of the other liver tests would be abnormal too, not just the bilirubin. But if you're really worried you could get a test for hepatitis. Another reason is haemolysis - this is where your red blood cells break down. But this is also pretty easy to see in a blood test. 79 is not sky high, it's a perfectly plausible level for Gilbert's. And Gilbert's is pretty common. If you have Gilbert's, the biliribun will go higher when you are ill or you haven't been able to eat for a day or so. Generally, a mildly raised bilirubin in the absence of symptoms or any other abnormality is assumed to be Gilbert's unless proven otherwise.


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