MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Gilbert’s syndrome

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Gilbert’s syndrome

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Alternative names Return to top

Icterus intermittens juvenilis; Low-grade chronic hyperbilirubinemia; Familial non-hemolytic-non-obstructive jaundice; Constitutional liver dysfunction; Unconjugated benign bilirubinemia

Definition Return to top

Gilbert's disease is a multifactorial inherited disorder that affects the way bilirubin is processed by the liver and causes jaundice.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Gilbert's disease is common, affecting up to 10% of some Caucasian populations. The most significant symptom of this condition is jaundice. Affected individuals ordinarily have no jaundice. However, jaundice appears under conditions of exertion, stress, fasting, and infections. The condition is usually benign.

Symptoms Return to top

Mild jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes)
Fatigue

Note: There may be no symptoms.

Signs and tests Return to top

A serial serum indirect bilirubin shows changes consistent with Gilbert's disease.

Treatment Return to top

Usually no treatment is necessary. The focus should be on the underlying condition that caused the jaundice.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Jaundice may fluctuate and persist throughout the patients life but usually causes no health problems.

Complications Return to top

There are usually no complications.

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if you have jaundice or persistent abdominal pain.

Prevention Return to top

Because this is an inherited disorder, there is no proven prevention.

Update Date: 10/9/2003

Updated by: Christian Stone, M. D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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