Elevated Bilirubin and Visual Perception in Pilots
Goerres H-P, Weber F. Elevated bilirubin and visual perception in pilots. Aviat Space Environ Med 2003; 74:278–80.
Background: A fatal aircraft accident of a Bo-105 helicopter on May 20, 1996 led to the suspicion that the pilot’s raised serum bilirubin level could have contributed to the accident. It was suspected that an increase of bilirubin beyond 20.52 μmol ยท L−1 could disturb visual perception. Methods: In 1998 and 1999, 101 pilots with functional hyperbilirubinemia, diagnosed as Gilbert’s syndrome, were subjected to perceptual-psychological testing (signal detection test) during their periodic medical examinations at the German Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine. The results of the psychophysiological testing were compared with a control group. Results: Reaction time and perception range increased with age and were independent of serum bilirubin level. Conclusion: There is no evidence that raised serum bilirubin levels can diminish visual perceptional performance.
Background: A fatal aircraft accident of a Bo-105 helicopter on May 20, 1996 led to the suspicion that the pilot’s raised serum bilirubin level could have contributed to the accident. It was suspected that an increase of bilirubin beyond 20.52 μmol ยท L−1 could disturb visual perception. Methods: In 1998 and 1999, 101 pilots with functional hyperbilirubinemia, diagnosed as Gilbert’s syndrome, were subjected to perceptual-psychological testing (signal detection test) during their periodic medical examinations at the German Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine. The results of the psychophysiological testing were compared with a control group. Results: Reaction time and perception range increased with age and were independent of serum bilirubin level. Conclusion: There is no evidence that raised serum bilirubin levels can diminish visual perceptional performance.
Keywords: accident; aviation; bilirubin; perception
Document Type: Short Communication
Publication date: 01 March 2003
- The peer-reviewed monthly journal, Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine (ASEM) provides contact with physicians, life scientists, bioengineers, and medical specialists working in both basic medical research and in its clinical applications. It is the most used and cited journal in its field. ASEM is distributed to more than 80 nations.
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