Jaundice
Jaundice is a condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes take on a yellowish colour. It is caused by a build-up of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced when red blood cells break down.
Under normal circumstances, the liver processes bilirubin so it can be excreted. When the liver is damaged, or when red blood cells are being broken down faster than usual, bilirubin levels rise and jaundice can develop.
Common causes include liver disease (such as hepatitis or cirrhosis), gallstones blocking the bile duct, and haemolytic conditions where red blood cells are destroyed more rapidly than normal. Newborn jaundice is also common and usually resolves on its own.
A bilirubin blood test is used to detect and monitor jaundice. It is typically measured alongside other liver function tests to help identify the underlying cause.
Causes of Jaundice
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin accumulates in the blood faster than the body can process and excrete it. Causes are typically categorised by where the problem occurs:
Pre-hepatic (before the liver):
- Haemolytic anaemias, in which red blood cells are broken down faster than normal, producing excess bilirubin. Causes include sickle cell disease, thalassaemia and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Hepatic (within the liver):
- Hepatitis (viral, alcoholic or autoimmune), which damages liver cells and impairs their ability to process bilirubin
- Cirrhosis, where long-term liver damage has led to widespread scarring
- Gilbert's syndrome, a common and harmless inherited condition in which the liver is slightly less efficient at processing bilirubin
- Drug-induced liver injury from medications such as paracetamol (in overdose) or certain antibiotics
Post-hepatic (after the liver):
- Gallstones blocking the bile duct
- Pancreatic cancer or other tumours compressing the bile duct
Tests that can help check this condition
Learn more on the official NHS page .
