Gilbert’s Syndrome pronounced as zheel-BAYRS syndrome is quiet common congenital disease which is harmless liver condition. In this condition liver doesn’t properly process bilirubin. It’s diagnosis is generally accidentally/incidental.In this condition patient complains of jaundice we check for the cause of jaundice but no any cause is found i.e it is a condition of unexplained jaundice. But most of the time this condition is diagnosed when patient undergoes blood test and we see increased level bilirubin in the blood reports.
Basically in this inherited condition the liver cells fails to convert all the unconjugated bilirubin to the conugated bilirubin which causes some free unconjugated bilirubin in the blood (more than the normal) and sometimes this unconjugated bilirubin are elevated too much that they causes yellow discoloration of the skin i.e jaundice like symptoms if further there level increases then it may also causes pruritis in the patient.
But many people never have symptoms. Occasionally a slight yellowish color of the skin or white eyes may occur. Other possible symptoms include tiredness, weakness, and abdominal pain.Usually it doesn’t cause any complications.Episodes of jaundice may be triggered by stress such as exercise, menstruation, long time fasting.
Cause of Gilbert’s syndrome ??
It is due to mutation in the UGT1A1 gene which leads to decreased activity of the bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase enzyme.This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern and occasionally in an autosomal dominant pattern depending on the type of mutation.It is fairly more common in males than females.
Treatment for Gilbert’s syndrome-
No treatment is required for this condition.
Only certain advices are given to patients like-
•Do not to take any type of stress
•Stay hydrated and drink adequate amount of water
•Take adequate sleep
•Eat healthy foods
•Avoid / Quit smoking and alcohol
•Avoid dieting
•Avoid heavy exercise and exertion
•Avoid fatty or sugary foods or foods that they cannot tolerate.
Some drugs that may trigger jaundice in patient’s of Gilbert’s syndrome-
•Atazanavir , Indinavir (used in HIV infection)
•Gemfibrozil with Statins (used in dyslipidemia)
•Irinotecan (used against bowel and other cancers)
•Acetaminophen or Tylenol may also cause problems because these drugs raise the risk of liver damage when taken in overdose.
So all the above listed drugs should be avoided by such patient’s and the patient is told to consult the doctor before taking any drugs.
Contributor- Medico Anant Singh Nanda
