Notes »
clinical
Jaundice
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
