Gilbert’s Syndrome, Signs/Symptoms and Diagnosis

Gilbert’s Syndrome

What Sample is needed for Gilbert’s Syndrome?

1. The patient’s serum is needed.
2. A random sample can be taken.

What are the precautions for Gilbert’s Syndrome?

• Avoid samples from the light.

How will you define Gilbert’s Syndrome?

1. Gilbert’s syndrome is benign, intermittent, familial (autosomal dominant), non-hemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.
   1. Jaundice is usually accelerated by pregnancy, exercise, fever, and drugs.
   2. Alcohol and contraceptive pills may increase unconjugated bilirubin.
   3. It is rarely identified before puberty.
2. This syndrome is characterized by mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.
   1. Nearly all unconjugated bilirubin is detected.
   2. This is a benign, harmless condition because there is a mild increase in the unconjugated bilirubin.
   3. It is chronic, benign, intermittent, familial (autosomal dominant), non-hemolytic, unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, usually diagnosed on routine laboratory investigations.
3. Gilbert’s disease is also called Constitutional Hepatic dysfunction or familial nonhemolytic jaundice.
4. Gilbert’s syndrome is benign, intermittent, familial, and autosomal dominant, with non-hemolytic jaundice (unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia), usually discovered on routine laboratory tests.
5. This may affect 3% to 5% of the population.

How will you discuss the pathophysiology of Gilbert’s Syndrome?

1. To understand Gilbert’s syndrome, the following diagram of bilirubin metabolism illustrates the condition.
   1. Hemolysis of the RBCs gives rise to unconjugated bilirubin.
   2. Unconjugated bilirubin is carried by the carrier protein (albumin) to the liver.
   3. In the liver, conjugation takes place with the help of a glucoronyl transferase enzyme.
   4. In Gilbert’s syndrome, the glucoronyl transferase enzyme is deficient.

Gilbert’s Syndrome: Bilirubin metabolism and various stages

What is the Mechanism of Gilbert’s syndrome?

1. Gilbert’s syndrome is a common, mild liver condition in which the liver doesn’t properly process bilirubin.
2. Gilbert’s syndrome is a nonhemolytic condition and is an autosomal dominant trait.
   1. Liver glucuronyltransferase activity is low due to a mutation in the bilirubin-UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase gene.
   2. It is a heterozygous group with raised bilirubin.
   3. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.
   4. There is an increase in unconjugated bilirubin, usually <3 mg/dL.
   5. Bilirubin fluctuates between 1.5 and 3 mg/dL.
   6. Bilirubin will increase with fasting.
   7. It is a benign condition and occurs in 2% of the population.
3.  The breakdown of red blood cells produces bilirubin.
4. Hyperbilirubinemia is due to the reduced activity of the Glucuronyltransferase enzyme.
   1. There is no role in hemolysis, and hyperbilirubinemia is due to enzyme deficiency.
   2. Glucuronyl transferase enzymes typically have 10% to 35% reduced activity.
   3. The Glucuronyl Transferase enzyme is needed for the conjugation of bilirubin.
5. There is an increase in the bilirubin monoglucuronide (unconjugated bilirubin).
6. Conjugation renders bilirubin water-soluble, enabling its excretion into bile and the duodenum.
7. These patients are given phenobarbital, which normalizes bilirubin and hepatic bilirubin clearance.

Gilbert syndrome mechanism

What are the Signs and symptoms of Gilbert’s syndrome?

1. Males are affected 1.5 to 7.3 times more than females.
2. It is also seen in the siblings of Gilbert’s syndrome patients.
3. Most patients are asymptomatic.
4. The onset is shortly after birth but may be unnoticed for many years.
5. There may be yellowing of the eyes and skin in some cases.
6. The most common finding is jaundice due to elevated total bilirubin. This bilirubin is usually <3 mg/dL.
7. The bilirubin level fluctuates and may even be normal. When these patients are followed, then 25% may show normal values.
   1. There is a transient, slight increase in the bilirubin (unconjugated); previously, they had normal bilirubin (in <30% of the cases).
   2. It may rise to 18 mg/dL, but usually is <4 mg/dL.
   3. Fasting will increase the unconjugated bilirubin.
   4. Bilirubin returns to normal with a normal diet within 12 to 24 hours.
8. There may be fatigue.
9. Jaundice may increase due to the following:
   1. Stress.
   2. Fatigue.
   3. Intercurrent illness.
   4. Reduced caloric intake.
   5. Alcohol use.
   6. Rigorous exercise.
   7. Lake of sleep.
   8. Pregnancy.
   9. Fever.
   10. Various drugs.
   11. Alcohol intake.
   12. Birth control pills.
10. These cases are usually diagnosed near puberty or in adult life during routine examinations.

How will you summarize Gilbert’s syndrome?

 How will you diagnose Gilbert’s syndrome?

1. Exclude all other liver diseases.
2. Liver functions are usually normal.
3. There is no satisfactory specific test for the diagnosis of Gilbert’s syndrome.
4. It may be followed for 12 to 18 months, with follow-up liver function tests.
5. Gilbert’s syndrome is confirmed if there are no constitutional symptoms and no abnormal liver function tests, except for a raised total bilirubin, which is mainly unconjugated.
6. Exclusion of other diseases.
7. Caloric deprivation test: If the patient’s diet is restricted to 400 calories/day, it will raise the total bilirubin level to>0.8 mg/dL, suggesting Gilbert’s syndrome. Patients with Non-Gilbert’s syndrome will have less than this (<0.5 mg/dL).
   1. Bilirubin levels return to normal 12 to 14 hours after a normal diet.
8. Indirect serum bilirubin is increased (Indirect bilirubin is seen in around 85% of cases). It is usually less than 4 mg/100 ml.
   1. Rarely, it may increase to 18 mg/100 ml, and then it needs treatment.
9. Fecal urobilinogen is decreased, but may be even normal.
10. Urine shows no increased bilirubin.
11. The liver function test is usually normal.
12. Albumin is normal.
13. Prothrombin time is normal.
14. The liver biopsy is normal. It shows no significant changes.

What is the Importance of the diagnosis of Gilbert’s syndrome?

1. Some people misdiagnose this condition as chronic hepatitis.
2. The absence of anemia and bilirubin in the urine differentiates this.
3. Liver function tests are normal.

How will you treat Gilbert’s syndrome?

1. These patients do not need treatment until the bilirubin is high because the bilirubin is mostly very low.
2. Give reassurance to the patient that he does not suffer from liver disease.

• Avoid acetaminophen because it is metabolized by glucuronidation. This triggers a toxic reaction.

Give a list of defective hepatic unconjugated bilirubin clearance due to defective uptake or conjugation?

1. Gilbert’s syndrome.
2. Crigler-Najjar type 1 and type II.
3. Liver diseases (severe).
4. Congestive heart failure.
5. Drug-induced inhibition.
6. Sometimes hyperthyroidism.
7. Portacaval shunt.