Lec 20 jaundice LFTs Flashcards
Where is bilirubin primarily derived from?
mostly from breakdown of hemoglobin from old/injured RBCs or ineffective erythropoiesis
Where is bilirubin formed?
in liver and spleen
What are 3 causes of jaundice?
- increased bilirubin production
- impaired hepatic handling
- benign lab finding
AT what level of bilirubin do you see jaundice?
bilirubin > 2.5 mg/dL
What 2 enzymes involved in formation of bilirubin from heme?
- heme oxygenase
- biliverdin reductase
What is the reaction heme oxygenase catalyzes?
heme —> biliverdin
What is the reaction biliverdin reductase catalyzes?
biliverdin –> unconjugated bilirubin
Where are heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase located in the body?
- spleen
- hepatocytes
- renal tubular epithelium
How is bilirubin primarily present in blood?
primarly present as unconjugated bilirubin bound to albumin
Why do you see greenish hue in resolving hematoma?
sign of biliverdin before it is converted to bilirubin
What is normal total bilirubin in plasma? % conjugated vs unconjugated?
1-1.5 mg/dl normal value
90% unconjugated
10% conjugated
Which type of bilirubin is soluble?
conjugated is soluble
unconjugated is insoluble –> must be bound to albumin
What are the 4 steps of bilirubin elimination via biliary tract?
- hepatocellular uptake
- intracellular binding
- conjugation
- excretion of conjugates into bile
What enzyme mediates bilirubin conjugation?
UDP-glucoronosyl transferase
What happens to bilirubin once it is secreted into small intestine?
- travels to ileum/colon where bacterial enzymes metabolize some of it to urobilinogen –> absorbed and recycled back to liver and to kidneys
- some converted to stercobilinogen –> excreted in feces
What is the rate limiting step in bilirubin metabolism?
excretion of conjugated bilirubin into bile canaliculus by MRP2 protein
What form of bilirubin excreted in feces?
stercobilin
What form of bilirubin excreted in urine normally?
urobilinogen
Does bilirubin in urine indicated conjugated or unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia?
indicated conjugated hyperbilirubinemia
unconjugated is bound to albumin so is not filtered by glomerulus
What percent of urobilinogen in gut is excreted as stercobilin vs reasbrobed?
80% secreted as stercobilin
20% reabsorbed