Jaundice Overview - Definition and Pathology (Including neonatal jaundice)

Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin, the mucous membranes and the sclera (the white of the eyes).
Jaundice is caused by elevated levels of the chemical bilirubin in the blood. When bilirubin is elevated, this can also be called hyperbilirubinemia).
To watch the video about bilirubin metabolism: • Bilirubin Metabolism -...
In this video we will have a look at jaundice in adults and in neonates. When Jaundice occurs in adults, there can be a variety of underlying medical conditions, some of which are serious and potentially life-threatening.
Jaundice occurs if there is a dysfunction of the normal metabolism or excretion of bilirubin. This disruption in the metabolism or excretion of bilirubin can occur at various stages, and it is therefore useful to classify the different causes of jaundice based on where the dysfunction occurs. This classification leads to 3 groups.
The first group is called 'pre-hepatic causes'. There is more production of bilirubin because of red blood cells that are broken down. This process of increased red blood cell destruction is called: hemolysis (Also referred to as 'hemolytic jaundice').
Intra-Hepatic causes
Jaundice caused from within the liver can arise from abnormalities in the metabolism and the excretion of bilirubin. So for example the conjugation of bilirubin is occuring at a much lower speed, this in turn may cause a reduced overall clearance of bilirubin from the circulation.
The third group that we will look at are named 'post-hepatic causes'. Jaundice from a post-hepatic cause arises from a block or an obstruction in the normal drainage and excretion of conjugated bilirubin in the form of bile from the liver into the intestine.
The treatment for jaundice depends entirely on the underlying cause. Once a diagnosis has been established, the appropriate course of treatment can then be started.
Almost all neonates get jaundice, which is just a physiological process. The underlying physiology includes different causes.
Breastfeeding jaundice:
unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia may develop because of a factor that promotes an increase in the enterohepatic circulation (called Beta-glucuronidase, which converts conjugated bilirubin into the unconjugated bilirubin for reabsorption).
When bilirubin levels get very high, this may lead to bilirubin encephalopathy. This is better known as 'Kernicterus'. In this phase, lipid soluble unconjugated bilirubin is deposited in the brain cells and disrupts neuronal metabolism and function.

[@summerbreezenight]

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[@themedicalzone5001]

+Summerbreeze Thank you for this great comment! I'm happy to help you in your learning process!

[@edithwilliams9909]

keep up the great work.

[@edithwilliams9909]

thank you for the effort of explaining, its so helpful.

[@fizzafar6898]

in intrahepatic and post hepatic which type of bilirubin increases.??