Overview Jaundice or icterus is the yellowish discoloration of the skin and sclerae from increased levels of bilirubin, a bile pigment derived chiefly from the breakdown of hemoglobin.

Mechanism of Jaundice

• Increased production of bilirubin
• Decrease uptake of bilirubin by the hepatocytes
• Decreased ability of the liver to conjugate bilirubin
• Decreased excretion of bilirubin into the bile, resulting in absorption of conjugated bilirubin back into the blood