Jaundice is yellowish discoloration of the skin, conjunctiva, 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][2][3][4]
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
Liver infiltration: Hemochromatosis, amyloidosis
+
-
-/+
-
↑
↑
↑/N
↑/N
N
-
Ferritin ↑ in hemochromatosis
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
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
-/+
-
-
-
↑
↑
N
↑/N
N
-
High lipids
liver biopsy
Ischemic hepatopathy
-/+
-
-/+
-
↑
↑
N
↑/N
N
-
Cardiovascular risk factors
Clinical setting
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
↑
-
Pos. autoantibodies
Beading on MRCP,
Liver biopsy
Sickle cell disease
+
-
-
+/-
N/↑
N/↑
↑
N
↑
-
Genetic testing
Pancreatic carcinoma
+
-
-/+
-/+
N/↑
N/↑
↑
N
↑
-
-
CT scan for diagnosis
AIDS cholangiopathy
-
-
-/+
-/+
N/↑
N/↑
↑
N
↑
-
Pos. HIV
Sono or ERCP for diagnosis
Parasites induces cholestasis
-
-
-/+
-/+
N/↑
N/↑
↑
N
↑
-
Ab or parasite serology
Sono or ERCP for diagnosis
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
-/+
-
-/+
+
↑
↑
↑
N
↑
-
Low PLT, Neg viral serology
Diagnosed clinically
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
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. PMID28145671.
↑Leevy CB, Koneru B, Klein KM (1997). "Recurrent familial prolonged intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy associated with chronic liver disease". Gastroenterology. 113 (3): 966–72. PMID9287990.