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Causes of Jaundice
The liver is a very important organ. One of its functions is to remove a yellowy chemical, called bilirubin from the body.
Bilirubin is found in bile and is made from the breakdown of red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. The body usually removes bilirubin from the bloodstream by passing it though the liver and to the kidneys for disposal. If there is too much bilirubin in the blood or the liver cannot get rid of it for some reason, this can lead to jaundice.
There are three types of jaundice:
Haemolytic jaundice – too much bilirubin is produced. This is usually caused by excessive breakdown of red blood cells. This can be due to a number of conditions such as anaemia or a problem with the metabolism (the way the body makes energy).
Hepatocellular jaundice – bilirubin cannot leave the liver cells and get into the bile to be removed by from the body by the kidneys. This type of jaundice is usually caused by liver failure, liver disease (cirrhosis), hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) or taking certain drugs. It may also be caused by a tumour in the liver, or a tumour elsewhere that has spread to the liver. People who have been drinking excess amounts of alcohol over a length of time can do serious damage to their liver.
Obstructive jaundice – there is an obstruction (blockage) in the bile duct and the bilirubin cannot leave the liver. This type of jaundice is usually caused by a gallstone, or a tumour or cyst in the bile duct or pancreas.
People with inherited conditions such as Gilbert’s syndrome, Rotor’s syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, or Crigler-Najjar syndrome are more likely to get jaundice.
