Definition Bilirubin is produced in the human body during the breakdown of hemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the red blood pigment whose main function is to store oxygen in the blood cells. Human blood owes its red colour to it. Bilirubin, on the other hand, is yellowish to brownish in colour and lipophilic, i.e. it is well … Bilirubin
Bilirubin in urine Bilirubin is normally excreted in humans through the bile and further through the intestines. However, a smaller proportion is also eliminated from the body through the kidneys and thus through urine. The kidneys can only excrete the conjugated or direct bilirubin. Indirect bilirubin is bound in the blood to the protein albumin, … Bilirubin in urine | Bilirubin
Bilirubin in the baby In the womb, the unborn child needs a special form of haemoglobin, called fetal haemoglobin. This binds oxygen more tightly and thus allows the foetus to be supplied with oxygen via the placenta. After birth, this fetal haemoglobin is broken down. A lot of bilirubin is produced at once. At the … Bilirubin in the baby | Bilirubin
Definition Liver failure (hepatic failure, liver failure) is the maximum degree of liver insufficiency. This results in a partial loss of metabolic functions of the liver. In the worst case, all liver functions come to a standstill. Terminal liver failure with loss of metabolic functions of the liver is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate … Liver Failure
Symptoms of liver failure Acute liver failure shows a classic symptom triad of icterus (yellowing of the skin and sclerae), coagulation disorders and disturbances of consciousness. These symptom triad results from the fact that the metabolic functions of the liver can no longer be maintained. In addition to these symptom triad, there are also numerous … Symptoms of liver failure | Liver Failure
Therapy Liver failure is an urgent indication for therapy. Liver failure can sometimes lead to serious and in the worst case to fatal complications, since the liver fulfils vital metabolic functions that cannot be compensated by other organs. A distinction is made between symptomatic and causal therapy of liver failure. In symptomatic therapy, the aim … Therapy | Liver Failure
Duration of liver failure By definition, different time intervals are defined for liver failure. Liver failure represents the maximum form, i.e. the worst form of liver insufficiency. Thus, liver failure includes liver insufficiency obligatory. The course of the disease until liver failure can be divided into: Fulminant liver failure: duration of less than 7 days … Duration of liver failure | Liver Failure
What is an icterus prolongatus? Prolongatus is an icterus (jaundice) in newborns that persists for more than two weeks after birth. In the case of icterus prolongatus, the bilirubin level is still significantly elevated above normal values even after the 10th day of life. This can be recognized by the conspicuous yellowing of the skin … Icterus prolongatus – How dangerous is it?
Treatment/Therapy In case of a mildly pronounced icterus prolongatus no treatment is necessary and the occurrence of consequential damage is very unlikely. However, the newborn baby should be checked regularly by transcutaneous bilirubin determination or blood tests in order to be able to start therapy in time if the values rise above the limit. It … Treatment/Therapy | Icterus prolongatus – How dangerous is it?
How long does an icterus prolongatus last? If icterus prolongatus is present, the newborn should be treated immediately with phototherapy. Treatment lasts one to two days, after which the yellow coloration quickly improves significantly. The prognosis for icterus prolongatus is good with appropriate therapy. The child recovers completely and consequential damage does not normally occur. … How long does an icterus prolongatus last? | Icterus prolongatus – How dangerous is it?
Is it allowed to breastfeed a baby with jaundice prolongatus? In rare cases an icterus prolongatus is caused by breastfeeding. In medicine, this is known as breast milk icterus. It is suspected that certain components that can be found in breast milk (possibly the enzyme beta-glucoronidase) inhibit the breakdown of the bilirubin produced and thus … Is it allowed to breastfeed a baby with jaundice prolongatus? | Icterus prolongatus – How dangerous is it?
Course of disease The course of the disease can be very variable. In principle, a nuclear icterus can be highly acute or chronic. The decisive factor here is how fulminant the causative event is, how high the bilirubin levels rise and how well the therapy manages to control the event. In most cases, this starts … Course of disease | Kernikterus