Urobilinogen

Reference values vary based on several factors, including the specific laboratory that supplies them. A patient's urine test values should be interpreted based on the reference value of the laboratory in which the test was done; the laboratory typically provides these values with the test result. Representative values are listed in alphabetical order in the following table. †Normal findings detected by microscopic examination can include a few red blood cells (especially in menstruating women), white blood cells, epithelial cells, bacteria, yeast cells, crystals (eg, calcium oxalate, triple phosphate, amorphous phosphates and urates), sperm, and unidentifiable materials. Large amounts of these substances or the presence of certain other materials may be abnormal.

What is Urobilinogen? Urobilinogen comes from the transformation of bilirubin, a product of the breakdown of hemoglobin in the red blood cells (=heme catabolism). Urobilinogen is formed from bilirubin by intestinal bacteria in the duodenum (=the first part of the small intestine). Most urobilinogen is excreted in the feces (90%). A portion of it is absorbed back into the blood (around 10%). Around 5% is transported back to the liver and re-secreted into bile again. The remaining urobilinogen (5%) is transported by the blood into the kidneys where it is converted into yellow urobilin and is excreted giving urine its characteristic yellow color. What is Bilirubin? Bilirubin is a breakdown product of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout our bodies. The life-cycle of red blood cells is around 120 days or 4 months. When the erythrocytes (=red blood cells or RBCs) get old -- or are damaged -- they will be broken down (or degraded) into its parts: Hemoglobin molecules will be broken down into Heme and Globin. Globin is a protein. This protein will be broken down into amino acids and will be re-used to create more red blood cells (=erythropoiesis). The heme is being broken down into two parts. Unconjugated bilirubin and iron. The iron will re-enter circulation and re-used for erythropoiesis as well. The unconjugated bilirubin needs to be removed from the body, because it is toxic. It has a yellow/orange color. The unconjugated bilirubin is lipid soluble. The pr...

Search this website Hide Search • About The Center • Meet Dr. Petri • Lupus Primer • Basics of Lupus • Causes of Lupus • Lupus Signs, Symptoms, and Co-occuring Conditions • How is lupus diagnosed? • How Lupus Affects the Body • Lifestyle and Additional Information • Lupus Disease Eduation Video Series • Lupus Tests • Antiphospholipid Antibodies • Lupus Blood Tests • Screening Laboratory Tests • Other Clinical Tests • Lupus Treatment • Lupus Medications and Treatment Options • Common Medications for Other Conditions in People with Lupus • Appointment Information A complete urinalysis evaluates several different aspects of your urine through physical, chemical, and microscopic examination. In lupus treatment, a urinalysis is often used to monitor protein leakage and identify and assess urinary tract infections (UTIs). Most people with kidney lupus (lupus nephritis) will have an abnormal urinalysis. Protein, urine casts (especially red blood cell casts), red blood cells, or white blood cells in the urine can indicate serious kidney involvement; leukocyte esterase mayindicate a bladder infection. Urine samples can be given at any time while at the doctor’s office. A urine culture is performed to assess for a bladder infection and to determine appropriate antibiotics. Before giving a urine sample, ask a medical professional to counsel you on how to prevent contamination. Several analytical elements of the complete urinalysis are explained below. Physical Examination / Macroanal...

Urobilinogen in urine can be an early sign of liver damage, even before the initiation of symptoms. Usually, urine contains some amount of urobilinogen. An excess of urobilinogen in urine is indicative of the following: • • Gall stones • Hemolytic • • • Certain medications damaging or killing beneficial bacteria in the gut What is urobilinogen? Urobilinogen is a colorless by-product of the transformation process of Bilirubin is produced during Some part of the bile flows through the ducts from the liver directly into the intestines whenever food is consumed, and the rest is stored in the gallbladder for further needs. The good bacteria in the intestines break down the bilirubin in the bile to produce urobilinogen. A portion of urobilinogen is excreted from the body through stools. Some urobilinogen reenters the bloodstream and is reabsorbed by the liver, where it is recycled into bile. A small amount of urobilinogen is excreted from the body via urine. What is the use of the urine test for urobilinogen? Urobilinogen in urine tests can be a part of aroutine It can help diagnose diseases affecting the liver, gallbladder, orbile ducts and hemolytic People with • • • • • • • Swellingand/or • Swelling in the ankles and legs • Dark-colored urine • Light-colored stools • Frequent Hemolytic anemia may present with: • • • • • • • Hepatomegaly • How much is too much urobilinogen in the urine? The normal urobilinogen levels in urine range between 0.1 to 1.8 mg/dL (1.7 to 30 µmol/L). ...

Urobilinogen is a colorless substance formed in the intestines by bacterial action on bilirubin. Bilirubin, formed from the metabolism of hemoglobin flows through the biliary tract into the small intestine. Bilirubin is transformed, as it is broken down through the action of bacteria, into urobilinogen. Once formed, most of the urobilinogen is excreted in the feces, but a small amount will be reabsorbed in the intestines and pass into the bloodstream. It either goes to the liver again, where it is metabolized and excreted in bile, or eventually pass through the kidneys and it is excreted in the urine. The daily urobilinogen excreted in the feces is approximately between 40 and 280 mg whereas the daily urobilinogen excreted into the urine is just 0.4 to 4 mg/day.Urobilinogen level in the urine may be elevated because the liver is incapable of processing the recycled urobilinogen in the blood or because there are elevated levels of bilirubin present. There are tests to detect the amount of urobilinogen excreted in the feces as well as urobilinogen excreted in the urine. Why is this test performed? The urinary urobilinogen test is an important tool in routine urinalysis since it serves as a guide in detecting and differentiating liver disease, hemolytic disease, and biliary obstruction. A positive result of urobilinogen in the urine (urobilinogen positive +) is useful for diagnosis because it may be related to: • Excessive destruction of RBCs (hemolysis) • Early liver dysfunc...

Causes of excess urobilinogen in urine may include viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver damage. Excess urobilinogen in urine may indicate • It is caused by • In a person with low urine urobilinogen and/or signs of liver dysfunction, it can be indicative of hepatic or biliary obstruction. Urobilinogen is a substance that is produced when • Some of the urobilinogen produced in the intestine is reabsorbed and returned to the liver; the rest is excreted in the feces. • A small amount of urobilinogen is excreted in the urine. When do doctors order urobilinogen tests? Urobilinogen urine tests could be ordered at your regular checkup, as part of ongoing liver condition monitoring or if you have symptoms of • • • Dark-colored urine • • Urobilinogen levels in urine that are higher than normal may indicate • • • Liver damage due to drugs Having urobilinogen in your urine does not necessarily mean that you have a serious health problem. However, if you have elevated levels of urobilinogen in your urine, talk to your doctor about it and discuss any potential underlying causes. Your doctor may recommend further testing or treatment, depending on the underlying cause of the urobilinogen in your urine. What does it mean when urobilinogen is low or negative? A low or negative result for urobilinogen on a urine test may indicate • A problem with the liver or the bile ducts, which can affect the body's ability to produce and excrete bilirubin • A problem with the production or breakdown of ...