Glossary


bilirubinsearch for term

A red pigment occurring in liver bile, blood, and urine. Its measurement can be used as an indication of the health of the liver. Bilirubin is the product of the breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells. It is removed from the blood and processed by the liver, which secretes it into the digestive tract. An elevated level of bilirubin in blood serum is an indication of liver disease or drug-induced liver impairment.

See also: liver