Viral hepatitis. A study of hyperbilirubinemia with acholuria in convalescence.

In 42 patients convalescing from viral hepatitis, the total and 1-minute serum bilirubin levels were measured on the day bilirubin was first demonstrated to be absent from the urine. The levels of total bilirubin ranged from 0.5 to 6.2 per 100 ml. of blood (mean 2.8 mg.), while the levels of the 1-minute bilirubin ranged from 0.3 to 3.3 mg. per 100 ml. of blood (mean 1.5 mg.). The reason for acholuria in the presence of the elevated 1-minute direct van den Bergh measurements is not clear, but may be due to the failure of the van den Bergh reaction to accurately measure the exact concentrations of free and conjugated bilirubin present in the plasma.