heart condition and bilirubin levels

[Kim1324]

hi there

My son aged 16 has bicuspid aeortic valve with valvular stenosis and regurgitation. He was diagnosed around the age of 4, he has been on medication (enalipril) for yrs now and we’re just waiting for the best time to do the operation.

he has had his bloods checked and in June his bilirubin levels were high so they have been doing bloods every month since.

They are now considerably high and our doctor is sending to consultant to see what/if they want to do anything.

My question is: is this due to his heart at all? The doctor hasn’t been very helpful and we’re left worrying now

[Czech_Mate]

Hi

Obviously I don't know the details of your son's condition, but just to say that I have a tendency to high bilirubin levels that was detected many years ago when I was 25. It was detected when I went to give blood. It worried my GP, but specialist diagnosed it as Gilbert's syndrome which is not harmful. Providing other liver related measures are OK it is nothing to worry about I was told. Certainly, apart from possibly a bit of tiredness when bilirubin levels have been high it hás never been any problem for me. My heart problems, which are different to your son's and probaly age-related didn't start until earlier this year (I am now 67) and unrelated to the Gilbert syndrome.

I tell you this to suggest that this maybe the case with your son. A couple of times in my life GPs have been concerned about high bilirubin in tests that I've had then it's turned out that all is OK. Seems to me it could be similar with your son but the specialist will tell you.

Good luck.

[Kim1324 in reply to Czech_Mate]

can Gilbert’s syndrome suddenly spear in the blood only it as always been working range previously and never elevated.

I believe it should be between 5-20 and my sons is currently 46 and rising

[Zbignieva]

Hi,

Bilirubin is the breakdown product of haemoglobin, which is the molecule in red blood cells that carry oxygen.

Elevated BILI is either because:

-there are too many red blood cells (RBCs) turning over. RBCs have a life span of about 180 days, then they ‘die’. This is often referred to as haemolytic anaemia and a FBC with blood film, LDH and haptoglobin can diagnose this.

One cause of haemolytic anaemia is G6PD deficiency, which is a genetic condition that can be tested for.

-the liver’s metabolic processing capacity is overwhelmed. Just about everything we take into our body and a lot of things our body makes, like bilirubin, get metabolised in the liver. This includes drugs. The liver is quite robust and it can correct itself.

I see Gilbert’s was mentioned, it may be a non-pathological cause of elevated bilirubin. The two I have listed are pathological causes of elevated bilirubin

[Hearty77]

Hi

I’m not able to answer your question I’m afraid but the action you are taking via your GP and specialist are the right ones.

Others have already commented on what bilirubin is and the functioning of the liver so I won’t add anything further there. I have a heart condition and was diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome a few years ago. Whilst I was waiting for the tests my GP advised me to try to reduce the pressure placed on the liver (reduce my alcohol intake, eat well, exercise but not to high intensity, etc). I didn’t drink much anyway and already ate well but I did do a lot of high intensity exercise so I changed my lifestyle a bit. I’ve got no idea whether this made much of a difference for my liver but from a common sense perspective it made sense to me so I felt mentally better. Thankfully for me it was Gilbert’s syndrome, which is generally harmless and can he managed, hopefully you’ll get a swift resolution for your son.

Sorry I don’t have the answers but you are on the correct path to finding out what’s causing this with your son and I wish you all the very best. Please keep us updated.

Best wishes to you and your son.