What does Gilbert’s disease mean?
Gilbert syndrome is a mild condition characterized by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia). It can make your skin and eyes look yellow from time to time. Is a common disorder that’s passed through families.
It’s a harmless condition that doesn’t need to be treated.
What is Gilbert’s syndrome caused by?
It occurs when the UGT1A1 gene changes, or mutates. This gene normally controls an enzyme that helps break down bilirubin in your liver
Parents pass UGT1A1 gene mutations to their children. You need to get two copies of the abnormal gene -one from each parent -to get it. Even if you do have both genes, you might not have Gilbert syndrome.
What are the symptoms of high bilirubin?
Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (Jaundice)
Dark urine, sometimes to a brownish tone.
Pale, clay-colored stools.
Extreme tiredness.
Loss of appetite.
Abdominal pain.
Heartburn.
Constipation
Can Gilbert’s syndrome cause tiredness?
Gilbert’s syndrome causes a slight increase in bilirubin levels, and the yellowing of jaundice is often mild. Some people also report other problems during episodes of jaundice, including abdominal pain, and feeling very tired(fatigue).
Is Gilbert’s Syndrome Dangerous?
Gilbert’s syndrome is a lifelong disorder. It doesn’t require any treatment because it doesn’t cause complications or an increased risk to your liver. Episodes of recurrent jaundice and any related symptoms are usually short-lived and eventually pass.
How is Gilbert’s syndrome diagnosed?
People are born with Gilbert syndrome, sometimes they don’t get diagnosed until their 20s or 30s. Your doctor may suspect Gilbert’s syndrome if you have unexplained jaundice or if the bilirubin level is raised in your blood.
Liver ultrasound
Liver function tests
Gene tests
Is Gilbert syndrome curable?
Gilbert’s syndrome is a lifelong disorder. It doesn’t require any treatment because it doesn’t cause complications or an increased risk to your liver. Episodes of recurrent jaundice and any related symptoms are usually short-lived and eventually pass.
Patients with Gilbert’s syndrome have a normal life expectancy and do not have any risk related to their liver.
Is Gilbert Syndrome a disability?
Gilbert’s Syndrome is not a disability. It is a lifelong disorder
Can Gilbert cause liver damage?
Most of the people with Gilbert syndrome have no symptoms. In Gilbert syndrome, the liver does not process enough bilirubin, due to an inherited genetic abnormality. If a person has high bilirubin, they may have jaundice.
Is Gilbert syndrome hereditary?
Gilbert’s syndrome is a genetic disorder (it runs in families). People with the Gilbert syndrome have a faulty gene due to which the liver does not produce enough bilirubin in the blood.
Can Gilbert’s syndrome cause itchy skin?
High levels of bilirubin can cause itching, but this does not occur in Gilbert’s syndrome, because the levels of bilirubin are not that high.
