Successful treatment of severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia via induction of UGT1A1 by rifampicin.

Abstract

We report two patients with uncommon Gilbert's syndrome with severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia which was reduced from 200 to 60-90 micromol/L by long-term administration of rifampicin. Hepatic induction of bilirubin-glucuronosyltransferase was suggested by increased relative amounts of conjugated serum bilirubin. This molecular mechanism was confirmed in primary cultures of human hepatocytes.

• Authors: Ewa Ellis, Martin Wagner, Frank Lammert, Antal Nemeth, Judith Gumhold, Christian P Strassburg, Christian Kylander, Despina Katsika, Michael Trauner, Curt Einarsson, Hanns-Ulrich Marschall
• Journal: Journal of hepatology (J Hepatol) Vol. 44 Issue 1 Pg. 243-5 (Jan 2006) ISSN: 0168-8278 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16288819 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• UGT1A1 enzyme
• Glucuronosyltransferase
• Bilirubin
• Rifampin

Topics

• Adult
• Bilirubin (blood)
• Cells, Cultured
• Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gilbert Disease (blood, drug therapy, pathology)
• Glucuronosyltransferase (antagonists & inhibitors, blood)
• Hepatocytes (pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Rifampin (therapeutic use)
• Time Factors