Pediatric Jaundice Flashcards
Which type of bilirubin is toxic to the CNS? (Be specific!)
FREE (not bound to albumin); UNCONJUGATED bilirubin
The large amounts of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood of a new baby is due to what factors?
- Hemolysis
- Inadequate conjugation (due to RBC with shorter life span and immature glucouronosyltransferase) and clearance from GI tract.
__________ is the most common type of bilirubin in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia due to ___________.
- Unconjugated/indirect bilirubin (lipid soluble type of bilirubin bound to albumin, before reaching the liver)
- Hemolysis of RBCS
Differentiate breast feeding jaundice vs. breast milk jaundice?
- Breast feeding jaundice is more of a function of dehydration and decreased excretion of bilirubin in the stool (related to the supply of the breast milk, which is sometimes low in first few days)
- Breast milk jaundice is due to presence of deconjugating enzymes in milk
What is jaundice?
Yellow-orange tint found in the sclera and skin in infants due to hyperbilirubinemia.
_____ of newborns appear jaundiced during the first weeks of life.
2/3
What 3 characters are newborns born with?
- High hematocrits and RBC volume
- RBC have a shorter life span (70-90 days)
- Immature glucuronosyltransferase => cant conjugate bilirubin
Conjugation of bilirubin occurs where?
Liver
______ it initially low, overwhelming the amount of UCB that goes to the liver. BUT increases over the first few weeks.
UGT1A1
What is the fate of conjugated/direct BR?
- => intestines via the gallbladder and bile duct.
- Once in the intestines:
- Beta-glucuronidase can deconjugate conjugated BR (water-soluble) from gut => blood
- Rest is pooped out.
- Conjugated/direct BR is _____-soluble
- UCB is ______- soluble
- CBR = water soluble
- UCB = lipid soluble
Visible jaundice early in life usually means that the TSB is at least ______
5mg/dL
Non-pathologic hyperbilirubinemia is ALWAYS __________-
UNCONJUGATED
Which type of hyperbilirubinemia is always pathologic?
Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia
What are common causes of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia?
- Increase production of BR
- Deficiency of liver upatake (bc must be with albumin)
- Impaired conjugation (Gilbert, CN syndrome type 1, severe UGT1A1 deficiency)
- Impaired enterohepatic circulation (decreased intake, decreased passage of stool)
What are some of the main signs of Kernicterus in a newborn?
- Choreoathetotic movements
- Ballismus
- Upward gaze
- Dental dysplasia
What are 4 pathologic abnormalities resulting in ↑ production unconjugated bilirubin in a new born?
- Erythrocyte-enzyme deficiencies
- Blood group incompatibility (ABO)
- Structural defects in RBC’s
- G6PD deficiency (enzyme deficiency)
What is Rh and why should Rh testing be done on all pregnant women?
- Rh is inherited and found on surface of RBC’s
- If mom is Rh (-) and baby is Rh (+) –> some of babies RBC’s get into Mom’s circulation during pregnancy and Mom develops Rh antibodies
- No big deal in 1st pregnancy, but w/ subsequent pregnancies the Rh antibodies can cross placenta and wreak havoc on Rh (+) baby (hydrops fetalis or erythroblastosis fetalis)