Bilirubin Flashcards
What is bilirubin?
Product of red blood cell breakdown
haemoglobin specifically
Where does red blood cell breakdown take place?
Spleen
Which component of red blood cells is converted to bilirubin?
Haemoglobin
What are the two types of bilirubin?
Unconjugated
Conjugated
Where is unconjugated bilirubin formed?
Haemoglobin breakdown in the spleen
Where is conjugated bilirubin formed?
What is it produced from?
Liver
Unconjugated bilirubin
What causes jaundice?
High blood concentration of bilirubin
Which type of bilirubin is elevated in jaundice?
Either or both, depends on where the problem is
What are the three types of jaundice?
Pre-hepatic
Intra-hepatic
Post-hepatic
Why may a patient have pre-hepatic jaundice?
Indicates high concentration of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood:
Haemolysis - abnormal breakdown of red blood cells
Sickle cell disease - sickle-shaped red blood cells die faster than normal ones
Gilbert’s disease - enzyme which converts unconjugated to conjugated doesn’t work
Why may a patient have intra-hepatic or post-hepatic jaundice?
Increased blood concentration of conjugated bilirubin:
Duct obstruction - bilirubin backs up
