Causes of elevated indirect bilirubin

Now our lives are getting better and better, and people are paying more and more attention to health, so many people want to know about some conditions of their own bodies. In life, some people find that their physical examination reports show that indirect bilirubin is high, so what is the reason for the high indirect bilirubin? Many people may not understand this issue, so let's take a look at the introduction in this article.

When a large number of red blood cells in the body are destroyed, a large amount of indirect bilirubin is produced, which exceeds the liver's compensatory capacity. The liver cells cannot convert it all into direct bilirubin, so the indirect bilirubin level in the blood increases. Indirect bilirubin can pass through cell membranes, is toxic to cells, and cannot be excreted from the body through the kidneys. Indirect bilirubin can be elevated in patients with hepatitis and cirrhosis. So, what are the specific reasons for high indirect bilirubin?

Causes of elevated indirect bilirubin

1. Liver disease

Some malignant diseases can also cause high levels of indirect bilirubin in the blood. Such as acute icteric hepatitis, acute yellow liver necrosis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc.

2. Hemolytic anemia

A large number of red blood cells in the human body are destroyed, releasing indirect bilirubin. When there is too much indirect bilirubin in the blood, it exceeds the conversion capacity of the liver, causing the indirect bilirubin to remain in the blood, resulting in high indirect bilirubin in the blood. This condition is also called hemolytic jaundice. Patients usually have symptoms of yellow skin, yellow sclera, and yellow urine.

3. Blood transfusion due to blood type incompatibility

When incompatible blood type is transfused, hemolysis will occur, causing massive destruction of red blood cells in the body, leading to high levels of indirect bilirubin in the blood.

4. Hepatocellular jaundice

When liver cells become diseased, bilirubin[2] cannot be converted into bile normally, or the liver cells swell, which compresses the bile ducts in the liver and blocks the excretion of bile, causing an increase in bilirubin in the blood.

5. Neonatal jaundice

When a newborn baby is born, jaundice appears within 48-72 hours (jaundice does not appear in the order of face, top, trunk, and limbs), the baby is in poor spirits, and the condition does not subside within 2 weeks. This is mainly caused by the blood type of the mother and child or congenital bile duct malformations of the newborn. This situation can also lead to high indirect bilirubin in the blood.

After reading the introduction in this article, everyone should have some understanding of the factors that lead to high indirect bilirubin. Generally speaking, there are many reasons that lead to high indirect bilirubin. Liver disease, blood transfusion with incompatible blood types, and hepatocellular jaundice can all lead to high indirect bilirubin. When high indirect bilirubin occurs, everyone should go to a regular hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time.