Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mehrian Jafarizade, M.D [2]
Overview
Jaundice is yellowish discoloration of the skin, conjunctiva (a clear covering over the sclera, or whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia. Usually, the concentration of bilirubin in the blood must exceed 2–3 mg/dL for the coloration to be easily visible. This page contains different causes of jaundice.
Differential diagnosis of jaundice
The differential diagnosis for jaundice, click here.
The differential diagnosis for jaundice and RUQ pain, click here.
The differential diagnosis for jaundice and pruritis, click here.
The differential diagnosis for jaundice and fever, click here.
The differential diagnosis for jaundice, fever, and RUQ pain, click here.
The differential diagnosis for jaundice, pruritis and RUQ pain, click here.
Differential diagnosis of jaundice are: [1]
| Classification of jaundice based on etiology
|
Disease
|
History and clinical manifestations
|
Diagnosis
|
| Lab Findings
|
Other blood tests
|
Other diagnostic
|
| Family history
|
Fever
|
RUQ Pain
|
Pruritis
|
AST
|
ALT
|
ALK
|
BLR Indirect
|
BLR Direct
|
Viral serology
|
| Jaundice
|
Hepatocellular Jaundice
|
Hemochromatosis
|
+
|
-
|
-/+
|
-
|
↑
|
↑
|
↑/N
|
↑/N
|
N
|
-
|
Ferritin ↑
|
Liver biopsy
|
| Wilson's disease
|
+
|
-
|
-/+
|
-
|
↑
|
↑
|
N
|
↑/N
|
N
|
-
|
Serum cerulloplasmin ↑
|
Liver biopsy
|
| Viral hepatitis
|
-
|
-/+
|
-
|
-
|
↑
|
↑
|
N
|
↑/N
|
N
|
+
|
Specific viral antibody for each type
|
-
|
| Alcoholic hepatitis
|
-
|
-/+
|
-/+
|
-
|
↑↑
|
↑
|
N
|
↑/N
|
N
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Drug induced hepatitis
|
-
|
-/+
|
-
|
-
|
↑
|
↑
|
N
|
↑/N
|
N
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Autoimmune hepatitis
|
-/+
|
-
|
-
|
-/+
|
↑
|
↑
|
N
|
↑/N
|
N
|
-
|
Anti-LKM antibody
|
Liver biopsy
|
| Cirrhosis
|
-/+
|
-/+
|
-/+
|
-
|
↑
|
↑
|
↑/N
|
↑/N
|
↑/N
|
-/+
|
Low platate
|
Small liver on ultrasond
|
| Cholestatic Jaundice
|
Common bile duct stone
|
-/+
|
-
|
+
|
+
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
↑
|
-
|
Dilated ducts on sono
|
CT/ERCP
|
| Hepatitis A cholestatic type
|
-
|
-/+
|
+
|
+
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
↑
|
+
|
HAV- AB
|
Abdominal ultrasound
|
| EBV / CMV hepatitis
|
-
|
-/+
|
+
|
+
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
↑
|
+
|
Positive serology
|
|
| Primary biliary cirrhosis
|
-/+
|
-
|
-/+
|
+
|
N/↑
|
N/↑
|
↑
|
N
|
↑
|
-
|
AMA positive
|
Liver biopsy
|
| Primary sclerosing cholangitis
|
-/+
|
-
|
-/+
|
+
|
N/↑
|
N/↑
|
↑
|
N
|
↑
|
-
|
Beading on MRCP
|
Liver biopsy
|
| Pancreatic carcinoma
|
+
|
-
|
-/+
|
-
|
N/↑
|
N/↑
|
↑
|
N
|
↑
|
-
|
Mass on ultrasond
|
CT scan for diagnosis
|
| Isolated Jaundice
|
Crigler-Najjar type 2
|
+
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
↑
|
-
|
Genetic testing
|
| Gilbert
|
+
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
↑
|
-
|
Genetic testing
|
| Rotor syndrome
|
+
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
-
|
Genetic testing
|
Liver biopsy
|
| Dubin-Johnson syndrome
|
+
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
-
|
Genetic testing
|
Liver biopsy
|
| Hereditory spherocytosis
|
+
|
-
|
-/+
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
-
|
Genetic testing
|
Osmotic fragility
|
| G6PD deficiency
|
+
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
-
|
Genetic testing
|
| Thalassemia
|
+
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
-
|
Genetic testing
|
| Sickle cell disease
|
+
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
-
|
Genetic testing
|
| Paroxismal nocturnal hemoglobinoria
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
-
|
Flocytometery
|
| Immune hemolysis
|
-
|
-/+
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
-
|
Autoantibodies
|
| Hematoma
|
-
|
-/+
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
↑
|
N
|
-
|
Anemia
|
Truma or surgery in history
|
|
References
- ↑ Fargo MV, Grogan SP, Saguil A (2017). "Evaluation of Jaundice in Adults". Am Fam Physician. 95 (3): 164–168. PMID 28145671.