Bilirubin high from imbruvica

[Tweetybird1962]

I have been on imbruvica for 1 year, my numbers are back to some normalcy, but my bilirubin is up due to the imbruvica. Possibly switching to Calquence, has anyone else had similar issue?

[Davidcara]

Wondering your bilirubin level. Mine is 1.5, started ibrutinib 11 weeks ago

[Tweetybird1962 in reply to Davidcara]

It’s been as high as 2.0, went off imbruvica for 2 weeks and it dropped to 1.6. Went back on and back to 1.7, so off for 3 weeks now to see how responds.

[shazie]

Yes. You must follow the trend not a single or two tests. Mine goes up and down so my doctor is not concerned about it. I used to do monthly blood tests but now I do them every other month.

[Kwenda]

Like Shazie my bilirubin goes up and down and I discovered that the variations depend on my diet. Spicy foods will raise my bilirubin quite significantly.

Dick

[morepork]

Yes, my bilirubin trended upwards over monthly readings for 5 months- 11. 13. 15, 17, 22

( Normal range NZ (4-20) then the last two months it has been downwards again 13, 11.

On Ibrutinib 280 mg.

Stephanie

[JustAGuy]

Do you know what your bilirubin was before ibrutinib? A separate thing called Gilbert's Syndrome can cause elevated bilirubin. It is caused by the liver underproducing the enzyme which eliminates bilirubin. I have never heard of Gilbert's causing complications, but a doctor will investigate high bilirubin because it can be an indicator of something more serious. Once a doctor knows it's from Gilbert's though, they usually ignore it. Good to avoid things which burden the liver, like alcohol, or too much of it anyway. Also do things which aid liver function (not those dad liver cleanses though!)...