conjugated bilirubin
Liver-processed yellow pigment
Conjugated bilirubin is bilirubin that has been processed by the liver, making it water-soluble so it can be excreted in bile.
When red blood cells break down, they release unconjugated bilirubin, which is fat-soluble and must travel to the liver bound to albumin.
There, enzymes attach glucuronic acid molecules to it—this conjugation allows the bilirubin to dissolve in water and pass into the digestive system.
Elevated levels of conjugated bilirubin in blood tests typically indicate liver disease or bile duct obstruction.
- jaundiceYellowing from bile pigment
- yellow skinDiscolored flesh from bilirubin
- liverAbdominal detoxifying organ
- bileLiver-made digestive fluid
- bile ductDigestive fluid conduit
gallbladder · cholestasis · yellow · serum · blood test · bloodwork · obstruction · excretion · ducts · water soluble · hepatitis · cirrhosis · newborn · newborn jaundice · icterus · urine · dark urine · dark
- bile pigmentsbilirubin
- bilirubinbilirubin, jaundice, neonatal jaundice
- liver productsbile, bilirubin, bile salts, albumin, cholesterol
- liver testsliver function test, ALT, liver panel, albumin, liver enzymes
- blood proteinsalbumin, globulin, globulins, fibrinogen, immunoglobulin
- Porphyrinsuroporphyrin, coproporphyrin, heme, porphobilinogen, uroporphyrinogen