Serum Bilirubin

Dr Anuja Mahajan explains the importance of checking serum bilirubin levels

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Bilirubin explained

The word jaundice or icterus in medical terminology which manifests clinically as yellow-orange discolouration of the sclera or white of the eyes and skin always draws a reactionary question “what's the serum bilirubin level?” Serum bilirubin is one of the components of the prescribed liver function test (LFT) where the functional capacity of the liver cells appears impaired and by itself is not of much diagnostic help except for the fact that it helps confirm the presence of jaundice.

To better understand this complicated biochemical laboratory parameter, we need to understand the process of its formation in the body. Bilirubin is the breakdown product of senescent and or fragile red blood cells (RBCs) whose normal life span is 120 days. The haemoglobin from the red cells releases haeme from which the iron is removed to be reutilised in the body and the remaining product is converted into bilirubin. This breakdown normally occurs in the spleen which is referred to as the graveyard of the red cells and in the bone marrow.

Forms of bilirubin