My son is 12 years old and while he was being checked for a cold his blood was drawn. Upon this blood draw, his bilirubin level came back 2.3. His liver enzymes were all normal but I am still concerned. What could be going on? He eats well, is 5 3 and weighs 115 lbs. He was doing a lot of activities during the time his blood was drawn but since the swim season is over he is inactive. We eat a lot of take out, which I know is not good. I am worried about fatty liver disease etc.....
Hi! Your son is not an overweight patient as his body mass index is about 20 which is within normal limit, as his liver enzymes were normal so chances of fatty liver disease and intrahepatic/extrahepatic biliary obstruction is almost excluded. Now to rule out exercise induced hemolysis you should repeat his total bilirubin and simultaneously go for his indirect bilirubin, hemoglobin, MTV, RBC count, reticulocyte count, platelet count, serum hemoglobin, serum LDH and urine urobilinogen level. Assessment of this laboratory test will rule out or confirm any ongoing hemolysis. Take care.