Types of jaundice Jaundice is a sign indicating the presence of an underlying diseases involving abnormal<unk> ilirubin metabolism, liver dysfunction, or<unk> iliary-tract obstruction. In general, jaundice is present when<unk> lood levels of<unk> ilirubin exceed 3 mg/dl. Jaundice is classified into three categories, depending on which part of the physiological mechanism the pathology affects. The three categories are: Category Definition Prehepatic/hemolytic The pathology occurs prior to the liver metabolism, due to either intrinsic causes to red<unk> lood cell rupture or extrinsic causes to red<unk> lood cell rupture. Hepatic/hepatocellular The pathology is due to damage of parenchymal liver cells. Posthepatic/cholestatic The pathology occurs after<unk> ilirubin conjugation in the liver, due to obstruction of the<unk> iliary tract and/or decreased<unk> ilirubin excretion. Prehepatic causes Prehepatic jaundice is most commonly caused<unk> y a pathological increased rate of red<unk> lood cell (erythrocyte) hemolysis. The increased<unk> reakdown of erythrocytes → increased unconjugated serum<unk> ilirubin → increased deposition of unconjugated<unk> ilirubin into mucosal tissue. These diseases may cause jaundice due to increased erythrocyte hemolysis: * Sickle-cell anemia * Spherocytosis * Thalassemia * Pyruvate kinase deficiency * Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency * Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia * Hemolytic-uremic syndrome * Severe malaria (in endemic countries) Hepatic causes Microscopy of a<unk> iopsy of a cholestatic liver showing<unk> ilirubin pigment <unk> rown pigment), H&E stain Hepatic jaundice is caused<unk> y abnormal liver metabolism of<unk> ilirubin. The major causes of hepatic jaundice are significant damage to hepatocytes due to infectious, drug/medication-induced, autoimmune etiology, or less commonly, due to inheritable genetic diseases. The following is a partial list of hepatic causes to jaundice: * Acute hepatitis * Chronic hepatitis * Hepatotoxicity * Cirrhosis * Drug-induced hepatitis * Alcoholic liver disease * Gilbert's syndrome (found in about 5% of the population, results in induced mild jaundice) * Crigler-Najjar syndrome, type I * Crigler-Najjar syndrome, type II * Leptospirosis Posthepatic causes (Obstructive jaundice) Posthepatic jaundice (obstructive jaundice), is caused<unk> y a<unk> lockage of<unk> ile ducts that transport<unk> ile containing conjugated<unk> ilirubin out of the liver for excretion. This is a list of conditions that can cause posthepatic jaundice: * Choledocholithiasis (common<unk> ile duct gallstones). It is the most common cause of obstructive jaundice. * Pancreatic cancer of the pancreatic head *<unk> iliary tract strictures *<unk> iliary atresia * Primary<unk> iliary cholangitis * Cholestasis of pregnancy * Acute Pancreatitis * Chronic Pancreatitis * Pancreatic pseudocysts * Mirizzi's syndrome * Parasites ("liver flukes" of the Opisthorchiidae and Fasciolidae)
symptom of Hepatitis B
symptom of Hepatitis A
symptom of Hepatitis D
symptom of Hepatitis E
symptom of Autoimmune hepatitis
symptom of Giardiasis
symptom of Schistosomiasis
symptom of Syphilis