From the Research
Urobilinogen is a crucial diagnostic marker in clinical practice, providing insight into liver function, bile flow, and red blood cell turnover, and its measurement is valuable in determining the underlying cause of abnormal levels, which may indicate liver disease, hemolytic anemia, or conditions causing increased red blood cell destruction, as noted in a study published in 2024 1. The significance of urobilinogen in urine lies in its ability to serve as an indicator of various health conditions.
- Normal urobilinogen levels in urine range from 0.1 to 1.0 Ehrlich units per deciliter (EU/dL)
- Elevated urobilinogen levels may indicate liver disease, hemolytic anemia, or conditions causing increased red blood cell destruction, as seen in a case report of a patient with alcoholic pellagra, where elevated urobilinogen caused black urine 2.
- Conversely, decreased or absent urobilinogen can suggest complete bile duct obstruction or antibiotic use that kills intestinal bacteria responsible for converting bilirubin to urobilinogen. Urobilinogen testing is typically part of routine urinalysis using dipstick methods.
- If abnormal levels are detected, further testing such as liver function tests, complete blood count, or imaging studies may be recommended to determine the underlying cause, as suggested in a study on urinalysis interpretation 3.
- The presence of urobilinogen itself doesn't require treatment; instead, management focuses on addressing the underlying condition causing the abnormal levels. It is essential to consider the limitations and potential interferences of urinalysis results, as noted in a study on the effects of diet, dietary supplements, drugs, and exercise on urine characteristics 1.
- A study published in 2009 found that urinalysis, including urobilinogen testing, is not a reliable screening tool for intra-abdominal injury in blunt trauma patients 4.
- Another study published in 1988 found that urine urobilinogen and bilirubin assays have limited clinical utility as screening tests for serum liver function test abnormalities 5.