Jaundice
Yellow discoloration of the skin caused by the accumulation in the blood of the yellowbrown bile pigment called bilirubin. Jaundice is a primary symptom of many different disorders of the liver and biliary systems.
Bilirubin is formed from hemoglobin as old red blood cells break down. The pigment is absorbed from the blood by the liver, where it is dissolved in water and excreted in bile. The process can be disrupted in one of three ways, causing one of the three types of jaundice—hemolytic, hepatocellular, and obstructive.
Jaundice in a newborn is often caused by hemolytic jaundice, in which the body breaks down too many red blood cells, producing too much bilirubin. This occurs in newborns when the liver has not yet developed the capacity to break down bilirubin, and where bilirubin is concentrated.
In hepatocellular jaundice, the transfer of bilirubin from liver cells to bile is prevented, causing a buildup of bilirubin. This is usually the result of acute hepatitis or liver failure.
Obstructive jaundice is caused by a block of the bile ducts, which prevents the bile from flowing out of the liver. Obstructive jaundice can also occur if the bile ducts are missing or have been destroyed. As a result, bile cannot pass out of the liver, and bilirubin is forced back into the blood.
Tags: bilirubin, Jaundice, liver and biliary systems, Yellow discoloration of the skin, yellowbrown bile pigment
Posted in Health and Wellness
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