In medicine

Medicine

Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

, bilirubinuria is an abnormality where conjugated bilirubin

Bilirubin

Bilirubin is the yellow breakdown product of normal heme catabolism. Heme is found in hemoglobin, a principal component of red blood cells. Bilirubin is excreted in bile and urine, and elevated levels may indicate certain diseases...

 is detected in the urine

Urine

Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...

.

The term "biliuria" is very similar, but more general. It refers to the presence of any bile pigment in the urine.

Causes

The most common cause of bilirubinuria is hepatocellular disease. More rare causes include inherited disorders such as Dubin-Johnson syndrome

Dubin-Johnson syndrome

Dubin–Johnson syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes an increase of conjugated bilirubin in the serum without elevation of liver enzymes . This condition is associated with a defect in the ability of hepatocytes to secrete conjugated bilirubin into the bile, and is similar to...

 and Rotor syndrome

Rotor syndrome

Rotor syndrome, also called Rotor type hyperbilirubinemia, is a rare, relatively benign autosomal recessive bilirubin disorder of unknown origin...

.

Although Gilbert's syndrome

Gilbert's syndrome

Gilbert's syndrome , often shortened to GS, also called Gilbert-Meulengracht syndrome, is the most common hereditary cause of increased bilirubin and is found in up to 5% of the population...

 and Crigler-Najjar syndrome

Crigler-Najjar syndrome

Crigler-Najjar Syndrome or CNS is a rare disorder affecting the metabolism of bilirubin, a chemical formed from the breakdown of blood. The disorder results in an inherited form of non-hemolytic jaundice, which results in high levels of unconjugated bilirubin and often leads to brain damage in...

are characterized by increased bilirubin in the serum, the bilirubin in these inherited disorders is non-conjugated and thus not excreted in the urine.