7.4. Gastroenterology - Approach to the Yellow Baby Flashcards
What are the Different Liver Function Tests?
- Bilirubin - Total / Split Bilirubin
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) / Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
- Alkaline Phosphatase
- Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
- Coagulation - Prothrombin Time (PT / INR) / Activated Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
- Albumin
What Liver Function Tests are elevated in Hepatocellular Damage (Hepatitis)?
- Bilirubin
2. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) / Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
What Liver Function Tests are Elevated in Biliary Disease?
- Bilirubin
- Alkaline Phosphatase
- Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
What is the Clinical Manifestation of Paediatric Liver Disease?
- Jaundice
- Incidental Finding of Abnormal Boot Test
- Symptoms / Signs of Chronic Liver Disease - Growth Failure
What is Jaundice?
- Yellow Discolouration of Skin and Tissues due to Accumulation of Bilirubin
- Usually most obvious in the Sclera
- Usually Visible when Total Bilirubin > 40-50 umol/L
What are the Key Stages of Bilirubin Metabolism?
- Post-Mature Erythrocytes
- Unconjugated Bilirubin
- Liver
- Conjugation - Conjugated Bilirubin
- Bile
- Small Intestine - Urobilinogen
- a) Liver
- b) Excreted by Kidneys
- c) Stercobilin (Faecal Pigment)
What are the 3 Types of Neonatal Jaundice?
- Early - < 24 Hours Old
- Intermediate - 24 Hours - 2 Weeks Old
- Prolonged - > 2 Weeks Old
What are the causes of Early (< 24 Hours Old) Neonatal Jaundice?
- Haemolysis
- Sepsis
Note - ALWAYS PATHOLOGICAL
What are the Causes of Intermediate (24 Hours - 2 Weeks Old) Neonatal Jaundice?
- Physiological
- Breast Milk
- Sepsis
- Haemolysis
What are the Causes of Prolonged (> 2 Weeks Old) Neonatal Jaundice?
- Extrahepatic Obstruction - Conjugated
- Neonatal Hepatitis - Conjugated
- Hypothyroidism - Unconjugated
- Breast Milk - Unconjugated
Note - Conjugated Jaundice in infants is ALWAYS abnormal and ALWAYS requires further investigation
What is Physiological Jaundice?
Unconjugated Jaundice, Develops after the First Days of Life, due to:
- Shorter Erythrocyte Life Span in Infants (80-90 days)
- Relative Polycythaemia
- Relative Immaturity of Liver Function
What is Breast-Milk Jaundice?
Unconjugated Jaundice which can persist up to 12 Weeks.
The Exact Reason for Prolongation of Jaundice in Breastfed Infants in unclear but it is suspected:
1. Inhibition of UDP by Progesterone Metabolite
2. Increased Enterohepatic Circulation
What are the Causes of Haemolysis in Early / Intermediate Unconjugated Infant Jaundice?
What are the Tests for these causes?
- ABO Incompatibility - Blood Group DCT
- Rhesus Disease - Blood Group DCT
- Bruising / Cephalhaematoma - Clinical Examination
- Red Cell Membrane Defects (e.g. Spherocytosis) - Blood Film
- Red Cell Enzyme Defects (e.g. G6PD) - G6PD Assay
What is the Investigation for Sepsis?
- Urine + Blood Cultures
2. ToRCH Screen - Toxoplasmosis / Rubella / CMV / Herpes
What is the Pathology of Kernicterus?
- Unconjugated Bilirubin is Fat-Soluble so can cross the Blood-Brain Barrier
- Neurotoxic and Deposits in the Brain