Jaundice Flashcards
What is jaundice?
A yellowish or greenish pigmentation of the skin and whites of the eyes due to high bilirubin levels
What serum bilirubin values does scleral icterus presence indicate?
At least 3 mg/dl
What symptoms are often paired with jaundice?
Dark urine (bilirubinuria)
Steatorrhea
Severe itchiness
What are the different types of jaundice?
Prehepatic (haemolytic)
Hepatic
Posthepatic (cholestatic)
What are the causes of prehepatic (haemolytic) jaundice?
Excessive red blood cell destruction
Sickle cell crisis
Blood transfusion
Haemolytic drugs
Haemolytic anaemia
What are the causes of hepatic jaundice?
Hepatitis Cirrhosis Alcoholic liver disease Gilbert's syndrome Hepatic cancer
What are the causes of posthepatic (cholestatic) jaundice?
Common bile duct gallstones most common!
Fibrosis of the liver canaliculi
Sclerosing cholangitis
Obstruction of the bile duct due to compression or occlusion
What can cause compression of the common bile duct?
Carcinoma head of the pancreas
Oedema of pancreatitis
Acalculus cholecystitis: drugs, trauma, burns
What can cause occlusion of the common bile duct?
Calculus cholecystitis
How is jaundice diagnosed?
The typical liver panel includes blood levels of enzymes found primarily from the liver, such as the aminotransferases (ALT, AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP); bilirubin (which causes the jaundice); and protein levels, specifically, total protein and albumin
How do you manage jaundice?
Treat underlying cause
What are the complications following jaundice?
Accumulation of bilirubin in the grey matter of the nervous system may do irreversible damage
Why do newborns have high levels of jaundice?
Normal physiological neonatal jaundice is due to immaturity of liver enzymes involved in bilirubin metabolism, immature gut microbiota, and increased breakdown of fetal hemoglobin (HbF)
