Abnormal Bilirubin Blood Level - Liver Could Be Ill-functioning

[FilthyFrancis]

Hi all,

I have performed 3 blood tests over the last 4 months, and my liver could be ill-functioning:

• Everything seems normal but my bilirubin which is super high;
• Enzymes level - hepatic transaminases (AST and ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) - appear at normal levels;
• My gamma glutamyl transferase (gamma GT) level seems low, with values between 7 and 9 U/L when the normal bracket lies between 8 and 61 U/L.

My total bilirubin level just peaked at 36,4 micromol/L (vs. 20,5 as max of reference bracket). My free bilirubin is at 25,6 vs. 17,1 and my conjugated bilirubin is at 10,8 vs 8,6...

I suspect there could be a link to my hair loss (which has a rather uncommon pattern). Derms and tricho often recommend a bilirubin blood test but I can't understand why. Given that everything else in my liver seems normal, what are the conclusions I can draw out of these results?

What should I do next?

Thanks to everyone for your help.

EDIT: I should add that I have stopped all supplements for at least, 1.5 month prior to my last blood test.

Find below the bilirubin results for my 3 blood tests:

 

[Aeroes]

I had mine done aswell he said mine was way to high

 

[FilthyFrancis]

I had mine done aswell he said mine was way to high

I am sorry I am not sure I get your message.

You also experienced high bilirubin levels in your blood tests in the past? If so, did you discuss it with your doctor? Did you perform further analysis?

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

In my last blood test (last month), i had close to max normal levels of "conjugated bilirubin" (3.8 µmol/L in range of : 0,5 µmol/L to 4 µmol/L), but my total bilirubin levels were on the lower side of normal (8 µmol/L in range of : 2 µmol/L to 21 µmol/L). I suspect it's the Dutasteride that affected my liver enzymes (started in Feb last year). AST levels are a pretty constant number of 20-25 U/L but my ALT levels doubled from a constant number of 23 U/L to 45 U/L. I am actually on the look out and will reduce dutasteride to everyotherday or even less ( due to me introducing extreme drugs recently, and they will take their toll on my liver). Elevated bilirubin (more than 2 times the normal levels of conjugated and/or normal) indicates liver damage. And if my liver enzymes numbers keep rising to beyond normal values, i will drop every medication. Hair isn't worth damaged liver.

 

[FilthyFrancis]

In my last blood test (last month), i had close to max normal levels of "conjugated bilirubin" (3.8 µmol/L in range of : 0,5 µmol/L to 4 µmol/L), but my total bilirubin levels were on the lower side of normal (8 µmol/L in range of : 2 µmol/L to 21 µmol/L). I suspect it's the Dutasteride that affected my liver enzymes (started in Feb last year). AST levels are a pretty constant number of 20-25 U/L but my ALT levels doubled from a constant number of 23 U/L to 45 U/L. I am actually on the look out and will reduce dutasteride to everyotherday or even less ( due to me introducing extreme drugs recently, and they will take their toll on my liver). Elevated bilirubin (more than 2 times the normal levels of conjugated and/or normal) indicates liver damage. And if my liver enzymes numbers keep rising to beyond normal values, i will drop every medication. Hair isn't worth damaged liver.

Well, at least, you know where it stems from. Dutasteride is guilty.

In my case, unless Minoxidil is causing this, there is no other trigger. I was not taking supplementation nor finasteride/duta.

I have a liver MRI scheduled next week, but expect not to see anything. The fact that all my other liver values are normal is weird.

 

[NorwoodingMyWay]

Well, at least, you know where it stems from. Dutasteride is guilty.

In my case, unless Minoxidil is causing this, there is no other trigger. I was not taking supplementation nor finasteride/duta.

I have a liver MRI scheduled next week, but expect not to see anything. The fact that all my other liver values are normal is weird.

True. By the way, diet also effects liver in various ways. If not drugs ( i found no relation between Topical minoxidil and liver enzymes), it has to be a change in your lifestyle or some environmental effect. Were your bilirubin levels always kinda high or just quite recently you saw the raise ??




To lower bilirubin, you need to stay hydrated, add alot of fiber into your diet, drink tea and eat very healthy (vegetables and fruits). You can also supplement with vitamins and minerals, they won't hurt. Sadly, there isn't a known medication to lower bilirubin, so a healthy diet/lifestyle is the best for now. About your GGT test, while it is in the below-normal side, i found that it's better to be lower than higher. Unless your GGT plummets to near 0 values, i don't think you have to worry about it.

 

[FilthyFrancis]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

True. By the way, diet also effects liver in various ways (...) it has to be a change in your lifestyle or some environmental effect.

I cannot identify anything.

Were your bilirubin levels always kinda high or just quite recently you saw the raise ??

It actually is the first time I was testing my bilirubin so there is no way to know whether it's always been this high for me. My tricho asked me to perform this test (I don't really know why - he should revert to me soon on this matter).

To lower bilirubin, you need to stay hydrated, add alot of fiber into your diet, drink tea and eat very healthy (vegetables and fruits).

My diet is already almost exclusively fruits and vegetables and I tend to drink a lot of water (2 glasses in the morning when I wake up, and consistently throughout the day).

About your GGT test, while it is in the below-normal side, i found that it's better to be lower than higher. Unless your GGT plummets to near 0 values, i don't think you have to worry about it.

You are completely right. I am not so worried about my GGT low level.

 

[badhabiz]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31888882

 

[FilthyFrancis]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31888882

Are you suggesting I should take efavirenz, an anti-HIV pill?

 

[badhabiz]

Are you suggesting I should take efavirenz, an anti-HIV pill?

of course not, lol
but, there are some info's about an understanding of these levels

of course i really hope there is nothing related to your liver

 

[FilthyFrancis]

Just performed my liver MRI.

Everything appears fine in and around my liver.

Have an appointment with my Doctor on Friday

 

[FilthyFrancis]

Just finished my consultation with the liver specialist.

He said it was good news the MRI showed no obstruction in the liver.

However, given bilirubin kept raising over the last blood tests, he prescribed some new tests to be undertaken in 3 months. If bilirubin keeps rising, I will have to perform a liver biopsy.

 

[FilthyFrancis]

So after almost a year of research, I was diagnosed with Gilbert Syndrome.

It seems this syndrome is not well-known today. Some are claiming it is used as a holdall for many diseases that raise the bilirubin level.

Anyway, any idea if this could be linked to hair loss? I have seen many people complaining about suffering from Gilbert Syndrome and losing their hair but this does not mean much to me unless there's an actual explanation behind it.