The Diagnostic Use of Specific Determination of Unconjugated Bilirubin

Abstract

In 31 sera from patients with hepatocellular or cholestatic jaundice unconjugated bilirubin was practically normal. In 176 newborn infants with physiologic or haemolytic jaundice and in one patient with constitutional hyperbilirubinaemia unconjugated bilirubin was elevated. Total bilirubin was increased in both groups and was approximately equal to unconjugated bilirubin in the latter group. The method is diagnostically superior to the indirect van den Bergh reaction and to chromatographic analysis in distinguishing unconjugated and conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia.

Key Words:

• Bilirubin
• cholestase
• erythroblastosis
• fetal
• glucuronates
• hepatitis
• jaundice
• liver cirrhosis