Bilirubin metabolism in obstructive jaundice Part. I. Renal excretion of bilirubin

Abstract

Clinical and experimental studies have been done to elucidate the mechanism of renal excretion of bilirubin, renal involvement by the pigment and behavior of serum bilirubin in disturbance of urinary excretion with human subjects and rats suffering from biliary obstruction. 1) The excretion of bilirubin into urine showed a positive correlation to total and direct serum bilirubin, but negative correlation to reserved binding capacity of serum albumin to bilirubin. This fact might indicate that, on urinary excretion of this pigment, non-albumin bound free direct bilirubin could be excreted into urine. 2) Rats with impairment of urinary excretion by unilateral ligature of ureter and human subjects with renal involvement showed decrease in urinary excretion of bilirubin which induced elevation of serum bilirubin. Therefore, serum bilirubin level was thought to be strongly influenced by renal fruction. 3) With prolonged duration of jaundice, renal impairment was increased and urinary bilirubin excretion was decreased. © 1976, The Japanese Society of Gastroenterology. All rights reserved.