Slightly elevated bilirubin levels but within normal limits. On medication for gout. Suggestions?
Patient: I went to the doctor today for a routine check up.  He always goes over the blood tests with me but this time what I saw was that the bilirubin was slightly elevated but consistently increasing for over, more than five years but still is in the normal range.   I am seventy years of age, excellent health, except for gout, I take allopurinol 300 mg/day for the last 10 years and aspirin. Doctor: Hello and welcome to HCM.Thank you for your query.I am very proud of your lifestlye and dedication to maintain good health. Gout is a common condition that takes place due to high serum uric acid levels. I would first like to inform you that serum uric acid levels can be controlled to quite an extent through diet. Why don't you consult a nutritionist for the same. If you succeed, then we can wean you off the medication.Allopurinol has shown to cause a rise in bilirubin levels, which is why you notice only the rise of bilirubin levels. As long as other parameters to measure your liver function are within normal limits, there should be absolutely no reason to be worried. Try controlling your gout through your diet, which will help your doctor in reducing the dose and gradually weaning you off the allopurinol. Wishing you loads of luck.I hope I have succeeded in providing the information you were looking for. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications at: http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-shoaib-khan/64581 . I would gladly help you.Best wishes.