Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin, conjunctivae, and mucous membranes caused by excessive amounts of bile pigments in the blood tissues. These pigments, normally present in blood as a result of the breakdown of haemoglobin in red blood cells, are filtered through the liver and excreted. Excessive amounts of these pigments produce four types of jaundice. In haemolytic jaundice there is increased production of bile pigment because of red blood-cell damage. This damage can be caused by antibodies created by a mismatched blood transfusion. In infants the antibodies can be caused by prenatal mismatch between the Rh factor in the infant' s blood and that of the mother. Newborns can also be jaundiced as a consequence of the condition known as hyperbilirubinemia. In these cases, there is a temporary defect in synthesis of the enzyme that breaks down bile to an excretable form. Hepatocellular jaundice occurs when liver cells are damaged either by viruses or by excessive intake of alcohol and lose the ability to filter pigment. Obstructive jaundice
follows physical obstruction of the ducts that transport pigment from the liver to the intestine. Blockage can be due to gallstones, tumour, or inflammation. Research Jaundice
Abbreviations
Medicine
Research Jaundice