Hyperbilirubinemic and cholestatic syndromes. New concepts aiding recognition and management.

An elevated bilirubin level can be classified as hyperbilirubinemia only if results of all other liver function tests are normal. In contrast, cholestatic syndromes are characterized by elevations in various measurements of liver function, particularly alkaline phosphatase, bile acid, gammaglutamyl transferase, and 5'-nucleotidase.