What Are The Causes, Complications, And Symptoms Of Gilbert Syndrome?
Gilbert syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes the liver to improperly process bilirubin, which is produced when red blood cells break down. Ordinarily, the liver converts it to a form that can be removed from the body. When this process doesn't occur, bilirubin may build up in toxic levels in the blood. Gilbert syndrome is a fairly common genetic disorder, affecting between three and seven percent of individuals residing in the United States. It's more commonly found in men than women. The disorder is usually mild and may not present with any symptoms. However, Gilbert syndrome patients may be predisposed to harmful buildups of bilirubin if they have other risk factors, which include general illness, menstruation, skipping meals or fasting, or exercising excessively.