KERNICTERUS

Course overview

KERNICTERUS, OR BILIRUBIN ENCEPHALOPATHY, IS BILIRUBIN-INDUCED NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE, WHICH IS MOST COMMONLY SEEN IN INFANTS. IT OCCURS WHEN THE UNCONJUGATED BILIRUBIN (INDIRECT BILIRUBIN) LEVELS CROSS 25 MG/DL IN THE BLOOD FROM ANY EVENT LEADING TO DECREASED ELIMINATION AND INCREASED PRODUCTION OF BILIRUBIN. THE UNCONJUGATED BILIRUBIN CAN CROSS THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER AS IT IS LIPID-SOLUBLE, UNLIKE THE WATER-SOLUBLE CONJUGATED BILIRUBIN. IT GETS DEPOSITED IN THE BRAIN TISSUE, MAINLY THE BASAL GANGLIA. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF KERNICTERUS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.