Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, liver biopsy tissue samples, FFPE tissue blocks with matched cryogenically preserved sera (serum), plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) biofluid samples from patients diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome.
The sera (serum), plasma and PBMC biofluid specimens are processed from Gilbert’s syndrome patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Biopsy tissue and matched biofluid samples are collected from unique patients diagnosed with Gilbert’s syndrome and are provided to a valued pharmaceutical customer for research, diagnostics, discovery and drug development.
The Gilbert’s syndrome, sera (serum), plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) biofluids are processed from patients peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Gilbert’s Syndrome Overview
Gilbert’s syndrome is an inherited (genetic) liver disorder that affects the body’s ability to process bilirubin. In Gilbert’s syndrome, higher than normal levels of bilirubin build up in the blood.
Bilirubin is yellow liquid waste that occurs naturally as the body breaks down old red blood cells. Bilirubin is found in bile, a digestive liquid produced by the liver that helps the body absorb fat. Your liver is part of the digestive system. It filters toxins from blood, digests fats and stores glucose (a blood sugar) as glycogen to use for energy.
Patients with Gilbert’s syndrome don’t produce enough liver enzymes to keep bilirubin at a normal level. As a result, excess bilirubin builds up in the body. Excess bilirubin is known as hyperbilirubinemia.
According to the NORD Gilbert syndrome is diagnosed more often in males than females and it affects approximately 3 to 7 percent of people in the United States.
Gilbert’s syndrome is genetically inherited condition, which means it’s passed down from parent to child through a change, or mutation, in a gene. Patients with Gilbert’s syndrome inherit a mutated UGT1A1 gene from their parents.
Signs and Symptoms of Gilbert’s Syndrome
Gilbert’s syndrome doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms. Approximately 1 in 3 people with Gilbert’s syndrome don’t have symptoms. They learn that they have the disease after getting blood tests to check for a different problem.
About thirty percent Gilbert’s syndrome patients may never develop any signs and symptoms. Some of the Gilbert’s syndrome patients may never even know that they have the disease. Most of the times it is diagnosed in early adulthood.
Gilbert’s syndrome can cause the following signs and symptoms:
- Abdominal Pain and discomfort
- Clay colored stool
- Cold and flu like symptoms
- Dark colored urine
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Jaundice Loss of appetite
- Nausea
The signs and symptoms get more exacerbate in patients with Gilbert’s syndrome due to some of the following conditions, that can further increase the bilirubin levels, such as:
- Being sick
- Drinking alcohol (Alcohol can raise bilirubin levels in patients with Gilbert’s syndrome)
- Exposure to cold
- Having emotional or physical stress
- Having an infection
- Fasting and not eating for a long period
- Lack of sleep
- Having periods
- Not having enough water
- Over exertion
- Recovering from surgery
- Skipping meals
- Stress
- Vigorous exercise
Causes of Gilbert’s Syndrome
As mentioned above Gilbert’s syndrome is a genetic condition that’s passed down from the parents parents.
It is caused by a mutation in the UGT1A1 gene. This mutation results in the body producing less bilirubin-UGT, an enzyme that breaks down bilirubin. Without proper amounts of bilirubin-UGT enzyme, the body can’t process bilirubin properly.
Diagnosis of Gilbert’s Syndrome
Usually doctors would test jaundice patients for Gilbert’s syndrome who don’t have other symptoms of a liver problem. Sometimes even if the patient don’t have jaundice the doctors may notice higher levels of bilirubin during a routine liver function blood test.
Doctors may also perform tests such as a liver biopsy, CT scan, ultrasound, or other blood tests to rule out any other medical conditions that could be causing or adding to the abnormal bilirubin levels. Gilbert’s syndrome can develop alongside other liver and blood diseases.
Usually if the liver function blood tests show increased levels of bilirubin, and there is no other evidence of liver disease, the patient is likely be diagnosed with Gilbert’s syndrome. In some cases, genetic test to check for the gene mutation responsible for the Gilberts syndrome is also performed. Certain medications such as rifampin and niacin can cause a rise in bilirubin in Gilbert’s syndrome.
Treatment of Gilbert’s Syndrome
Usually Gilbert’s syndrome don’t require treatment. However, if the patient start to have significant symptoms, including fatigue or nausea, your doctor might prescribe daily phenobarbital (Luminal) to help reduce the total amount of bilirubin in your body.
Following are some of the lifestyle changes Gilbert’s syndrome patients can make, which can help prevent the symptoms:
- Avoid exertion and long periods of intense exercise: Keep strenuous workouts short (under 10 minutes). Instead get at least 30 minutes of light to moderate exercise everyday.
- Drink a lot of water: Staying hydrated is very important. This is especially important during exercise, hot weather, and illness.
- Eat a balanced diet. Eat regularly, don’t skip any meals, and don’t follow any diet plans that recommend fasting or eating only small amounts of calories.
- Getting plenty of sleep: Try to sleep at least eight hours everyday consistently.
- Learning how the medications interact with Gilbert’s syndrome: Some medications, including used to treat cancer, may work differently if someone has Gilbert’s syndrome.
- Limit alcohol intake: Patients who you have any liver condition, it’s best to avoid alcohol consumption or have very limited amount.
- Practice relaxation techniques to cope with stress: Listening to music, meditation, practicing yoga, or other activities that help you relax.
