What Does Total Billirubin Of .89 Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 17 Sep 2014

Question: Total billirubin- .89 (.20-1.40)
Indirect billirubin- .64 (.20-.80)
Direct billirubin- .25 (.0-.20) High
Ast- 39 (13-39)
alt - 73 (7-52) HIGH
Alkaline phosphatase- 60 (38-136)
Albumin - 4.5 (3.5-5.0)
INR - 1.1 (.8-1.2)
Platelet - 307 (150-400)
RBC - 5.71 (4.69-6.13)
Ferritin- 131 (22-275)
TIBC - 416 (260-445)
Iron - 61 (50-212)

What does the billirubin mean? Have gastro and primary. Both do not think cirrhosis. Only had total billirubin before. First time saw direct and indirect. Is this very high. All other tests listed and more done for auto immune diseases and tumor markers. All fine. alt was 80 but is down to 73 in six weeks. Please let me know what direct billirubins means and could this be cirrohsis ? Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Lohit K (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Be relaxed. Cant be cirrhosis. normal

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I went through the query and understood your concern.

Be relaxed. No need to worry for your test report but just keep monitoring LFT.
Your tests are normal except slight rise in ALT or direct bilirubin and does not require any treatment.

In simple words for your understanding,
Bilirubin will be produced by destruction of old or damaged blood and then travel to liver for conjugation. Conjugated in liver we call as direct and before its conjugation in liver it will be present in blood called as indirect / unconjugated. Combination of these two called as total bilirubin.

So slight variation does not signifies any infection or problem. So no need to worry much and be relaxed. Just need to monitor. For your confirmation and to rule out any other problem get done ultra sonography of abdomen once.

I hope this information helps you. Feel free to ask for any further queries. I will be glad to answer them.
Wish you faster recovery and good health.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Lohit K (1 hour later)

Thank you Doctor I had read that high direct billirubin numbers indicate possible bile portal blockage or cirrhosis. I have not been able to talk to the gastro since I just got results. Concerned this could be the issue for the raised levels. Thank you, and do you see this as a possibility or is the number to low. I appreciate the response and what I read is what caused my concern. Thank you doctor!

Answered by Dr. Lohit K (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
urine bilirubin and urobilinogen

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

in cirrhosis there will be raised enzymes along with bilirubin. So cirrhosis ruled out.

In obstruction again the bilirubin level increases more. Yours is slight increase. Better to check for urinary bilirubin and urobilinogen once to rule out obstruction also.

otherwise your liver function test seems normal. No need to worry much.

I hope this helps you.
Wish you good health.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Lohit K (46 minutes later)

Thank you doctor. All urine was negative for traces or anything. No billirubins in urine and no proteins. Thank you for the piece of mind and I will follow up with the gastro doctor. I am sure he will call too if he feels I need anything for follow up. Just been really concerned about cirrhosis. Thank you Doctor.

Answered by Dr. Lohit K (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No problem. be relaxed. Wish you good health

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I am happy that the above information helped you. Since urine negative you need not to worry for any other pathology.

If you are satisfied and no further concern you can close the query and write a review as well.

Wish you good health.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar