Studies on the Mechanism of Fasting Hyperbilirubinemia
Abstract
The total plasma bilirubin concentration (Br) increased by 23 to 334% in 12 individuals (10 healthy volunteers and 2 patients with Gilbert's syndrome) who fasted for 1 to 3 days. Eight-six per cent of the rise in Br was due to an increase in plasma unconjugated bilirubin. The percentage increase in Br did not correlate with the magnitude of the base line concentration. Studies with bilirubin- 3H in 5 subjects showed that the hepatic clearance of bilirubin from the plasma (CBr) was reduced by 28 to 54% during fasting, accounting for the increase in Br. The ratio of the plasma bilirubin turnover during fasting to that in base line state was 0.99 plus or minus 0.16 (mean plus or minus SD) for these five individuals, indicating that increased plasma bilirubin turnover did not contribute to the rise in Br. In 5 additional subjects the mean change in carbon monoxide production with fasting was only +24%, whereas Br increased by 188%. Further studies were done to determine why CBr decreases with fasting.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 27, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0740975
Entities
People
- F. Lee Rodkey
- Joseph R. Bloomer
- Nathaniel I. Berlin
- Peter V. Barrett
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center