Title:An Evolution of Bilirubin Physiology and Analysis
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Author(s): Kabita Kumari*, Shravan Kumar Pahuja and Sanjeev Kumar
Affiliation:
- Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab,
India
Keywords:
Bilirubin, biliverdin, jaundice, kernicterus, neonates, transcutaneous bilirubinometer.
Abstract: Bilirubin is a yellow tetrapyrrole molecule found in the gastrointestinal system, and it is
produced when hemoglobin (Hb) is degraded. For treating various liver disorders like jaundice,
serum bilirubin in the body is a testing marker. Jaundice develops when the serum bilirubin level is
more significant than 2.0 to 2.5 mg/dl. Examining different forms of bilirubin, i.e., conjugated (direct)
bilirubin, unconjugated (indirect) bilirubin, and total bilirubin, helps the physician identify the
cause and metabolic disorder of jaundice. Inconsistent bilirubin production and removal results in
lasting neurologic consequences (kernicterus). In this paper, we have presented a brief introduction
to jaundice, the physiological mechanism of bilirubin, its types and causes, clinical approaches toward
patients having jaundice, i.e., the conventional method being practiced in clinical laboratories,
and various non-invasive systems in the point-of-care settings along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Information on bilirubin production and elimination with tracking of bilirubin levels
may help to guide the proper clinical management of jaundice. The primary focus is on the progression
of established methodologies and techniques to newer ones capable of measuring bilirubin
in biological materials.
