MedTerms Medical Dictionary

Gilbert syndrome: A common but harmless genetic condition in which a liver enzyme essential to the disposal of bilirubin (the chemical that results from the normal breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells) is abnormal.

This enzyme abnormality results in mild elevations of bilirubin pigment in the blood and the elevated bilirubin pigment can sometimes cause mild yellowing (jaundice) of the eyes. People with Gilbert syndrome are otherwise entirely normal with no other signs or symptoms and their liver enzymes in blood serum are also entirely normal.

Gilbert syndrome is an autosomal dominant trait. If someone has Gilbert syndrome, the chance of their transmitting the Gilbert gene to each of their children is one-half (50%) and each child who gets the gene gets Gilbert syndrome.

There is no need for treatment in Gilbert's syndrome, and the prognosis (outlook) is excellent. Gilbert's syndrome is a frequent finding in people in North America and Europe. The condition is usually detected serendipitously (purely by accident) in the course of routine blood screening. Gilbert's syndrome is thus an accidentally-encountered enzyme abnormality of no health consequence.

Gilbert syndrome is caused by mutation in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene. Mutations in the same gene cause the Crigler-Najjar syndrome, which is a more severe and dangerous form of hyperbilirubinemia (high bilirubin in the blood).

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Find a medical definition by using the A-Z listing (select a letter)

Copyright © 1996-2003 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved.
MedicineNet, Inc. does not endorse any of the services or products offered on this page.

Information in the MedTerms Medical Dictionary is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. You should carefully read all product packaging. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider.

Use the A-Z listing (select a letter) to find a definition

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z