Bilirubin

[Worrysome1]

Can you have good bilirubin reading with severe liver disease?

[JennerLayne]

In my case, my MELD score is only a 7 with near normal labs. My bilirubin level has never been outside of average (knock on wood). I am stage 4 cirrhosis and have been put on the radar with a local hepatology / transplant team to watch future levels. Just started Urso / Bud / Aza last month and already have stomach bleeds, GR1 esophageal varices, and Portal Hypertension. It amazes me how unique and different we all are!

[Worrysome1 in reply to JennerLayne]

Thank you for replying.

[DM-001 in reply to JennerLayne]

But not totally normal is the key isn’t it? Or have they fluctuated a lot?

[Worrysome1 in reply to DM-001]

Hospital doc says normal bilirubin and cirrhosis not possible.

[Hidden in reply to JennerLayne]

What liver enzymes numbers did you have when they diagnosed you? GGT? ALT ? ALP?

[JennerLayne in reply to Hidden]

All liver enzymes are totally normal, as is my Alk Phos and Bilirubin. I have a score of 11 for Portal Hypertension, have had stomach bleeds (treated with Argon Plasma surgery), G1 esophageal varices, and just had a second biopsy (May ‘21) to confirm cirrhosis from AIH/PBC. As of Thursday, my Meld dropped back to 6. Tomorrow, I’m having a 3 phase CT liver protocol to scan my liver for any tumors, etc.

[Hidden in reply to JennerLayne]

I am having CT next week with the contrast thing. Update on your CT.

[Cleverblue1 in reply to JennerLayne]

Can you describe what esophageal varices feels like and how and whom diagnosed it? I’ve had unusual stiffness/discomfort in my neck. My ENT went down esophagus through nose tube and diagnosed laryngeal reflux disease. But prednisone/antibiotic doesn’t seem to be helping. How did you definitely know you had esophageal varices? Thanks!

[oxaram]

Mine is sometimes within normal, sometimes just out of normal.

[Motik]

"The serum bilirubin concentration is a specific marker of liver disease but the sensitivity is low for detecting liver damage and remains within normal limits in many patients with compensated liver cirrhosis. In liver cirrhosis, portal blood flow is distorted accompanied by a decrease in hepatic clearance of bilirubin."..... Quote from the net

[Malty3870]

When I was diagnosed my billarubin levels was nearly 400 x