Symptoms, tests and diagnosis for Gilbert’s syndrome

On this page:

What are the symptoms of Gilbert’s syndrome?
Tests for Gilbert’s syndrome
How is Gilbert’s syndrome diagnosed?

What are the symptoms of Gilbert’s syndrome?

Many people will have no symptoms of Gilbert’s syndrome. And it will never cause them a problem.

Jaundice

The most common symptom is jaundice that goes away after a few days without any treatment.

Jaundice is a yellow colour to your eyes or skin. In Gilbert’s syndrome jaundice is usually seen in the eyes.

Episodes of jaundice can be triggered by physical or emotional stress. You can find out more about triggers here.

Gilbert’s syndrome does not cause cirrhosis. But if you already have cirrhosis from another condition Gilbert’s syndrome can make the jaundice worse.

Other symptoms

Some people with Gilbert’s syndrome also have symptoms caused by complications of the condition. For example itching linked to jaundice. Or digestive problems caused by gallstones.

You can find out more about gallstones here.

We have also heard from people with Gilbert’s syndrome who experience more severe problems. You can find out more here.

Tests for Gilbert’s syndrome

Talking to your doctor

Your doctor should ask you about your symptoms, medical history and if anyone in your family has Gilbert’s syndrome. They should also look at the results of any liver blood tests you have had in the past.

They should examine you. This will probably involve lying down and lifting up your top a little so that they can feel your tummy and side just below your ribs. This is to check that your liver is not larger than normal. A larger liver could suggest a different liver condition.

You will also have blood tests.

Liver blood test

If your doctor thinks you may have Gilbert’s syndrome, you should have a test called a liver blood test. This is sometimes called a liver function test or LFT.

The liver blood test looks at several different things. One of these is the amount of bilirubin in your blood.

The amount of bilirubin can go up and down over time. So you might be asked to have the test again to see if it has changed.

If you have Gilbert’s syndrome, all the other results from your liver blood test will be normal.

Find out more about liver blood tests here.

Full blood count

A full blood count is another blood test. You will probably have this at the same time as a liver blood test. It is used to rule out other possible problems.

The full blood count looks at the numbers of different types of cells in your blood. One of the things it looks at is the number of red blood cells. If there is a problem with your red blood cells and lots of them are dying this can cause an increase in bilirubin in your blood.

If you have Gilbert’s syndrome, your red blood cells will be normal

Other tests

If doctors are not sure about your diagnosis you might be asked to have other tests, usually an ultrasound scan to look at your liver.

Find out more about ultrasound scans here

You should not need to have a liver biopsy to diagnose Gilbert’s syndrome. You might be asked to have one if doctors think there could be a different problem with your liver.

Find out more about liver biopsy here

Should I have a genetic test?

In most cases you will not have a genetic test for Gilbert’s syndrome.

A test is available in some places to look for the most common variants. But the results do not show if you will get symptoms and do not help with treatment. So there is usually no benefit to having the test.

In some cases a genetic test is used to confirm the diagnosis.

You can find out more about Gilbert’s and medicines here.

Should my children be tested?

Gilbert’s syndrome can be passed down from parent to child. But not everyone with the gene variant for it will get the condition. So it can also seem to “skip” generations. There is no evidence that Gilbert’s disease causes long term harm. So there is no benefit to being tested for it unless you have symptoms.

If your child develops jaundice, or other symptoms of a liver problem you should always seek medical help. Even if they may have inherited Gilbert’s syndrome.

Find out more about liver disease in children.

Diagnosing Gilbert’s syndrome

Gilbert’s syndrome is diagnosed by looking at your bilirubin level and ruling out other possible conditions. This is called a diagnosis of exclusion.

You will be diagnosed with Gilbert’s syndrome if all of these apply:

Your liver blood test found a higher than normal amount of bilirubin
Your other test results were all normal
You have no symptoms of other liver conditions
You have jaundice that comes and goes

If your doctor is not certain that your condition is Gilbert’s syndrome, or if they think you might have another liver condition as well, you should be referred to a specialist for more tests.

Find out more about choosing where to have your care.

Find out more about tests for liver conditions.

Next living with Gilbert’s syndrome

Published: September 2024