What it means
When red blood cells wear out, their hemoglobin is broken down into bilirubin. The liver changes it into a form that can leave the body in bile and stool (direct or conjugated bilirubin); before that it is called indirect or unconjugated. A high level makes the skin and eyes yellow (jaundiceJAWN-disYellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.Full entry ). It rises with liver disease, blocked bile ducts and fast breakdown of red cells (hemolysishee-MOL-ih-sisThe breaking apart of red blood cells, which releases hemoglobin into the blood.hem/o blood-lysis breaking downFull entry ). Many newborns have a short-lived rise.
For the nurse
In newborns, check for yellow skin moving from the face down the body, and support frequent feeding. During phototherapy, cover the eyes, keep the skin bare, turn the baby and watch fluid intake and temperature.
At a glance
| Normal range | Total 0.3–1.0 mg/dL [5–17 µmol/L] in adults; newborn levels are judged by age in hours. Each lab sets its own reference range. |
|---|---|
| Spanish | bilirrubina |
| Also written | serum bilirubin, bilirubin level, bilirubin levels |
Related terms
jaundice
Yellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.
red blood cell
A blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues; also called an erythrocyte.
hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver, most often caused by a virus.
cirrhosis
Long-term scarring of the liver, in which scar tissue replaces healthy tissue and keeps the liver from working normally.
hemolysis
The breaking apart of red blood cells, which releases hemoglobin into the blood.