Re: Direct vs Total Bilirubin

[Guest guest]

,

's total going up indicates less liver function. I wouldn't

be joking about it. But I wasn't there, so I shouldn't

criticize.

A general rule of thumb is that the direct indicates how blocked

the bile ducts are, the indirect how well the liver is

functioning. Essentially the indirect is waiting to be processed

(conjugated - attached to a glucuronide), the direct has been

conjugated and should be flowing down the ducts to the gut.

Read a fuller explanation at:

http://health.excite.com/content/asset/adam_test_bilirubin

Tim

--- Kkbhirsh@... wrote:

> On the Meld model do we use total or direct? Barb

>

> Another reason why I asked: At s last GI apt. I

> expressed a concern about s " total " count going up. The

> GI then looked at labs, looked at me and smiled (he was having

> to much fun with and said.....well, I like the way the

> " direct " looks. It has been steady " . No, I didn't even

> bother going there with that thought running through my head.

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