Bilirubin is a substance produced by the breakdown of old red
blood cells and hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that
carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Bilirubin
is removed from the body through the digestive system as part of
the bile from the liver. Normally, the body is constantly making
new red blood cells and breaking down old ones. The amount of
bilirubin in a person's blood is usually very low. Higher-than-
normal amounts of bilirubin in the blood cause a person's skin
and eyes to become yellow (jaundice). A blockage in the bile
duct or certain medical conditions, such as liver disease, may
cause bilirubin levels to rise to an unhealthy level. Newborns
often have high amounts of bilirubin in their blood. In most
cases, the baby's system will become better able to eliminate
the bilirubin within days. But a baby may need medical attention
if the yellowing appears to increase after the third day of life
or has not decreased by the fifth day. eMedicineHealth Medical
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