KERNICTERUS: REVISED CONCEPTS OF PATHOGENESIS AND MANAGEMENT

[摘要] BILIRUBIN ENCEPHALOPATHY occurs almost exclusively in newborn infants with severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. When these babies succumb to this condition the brain usually shows localized yellow staining (kernicterus) which is due in part to accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin. There is strong circumstantial evidence that bilirubin is responsible for the neuropathologic changes characteristic of kernicterus but the factors governing the entry of the pigment into the central nervous system have long been a matter of speculation.In the plasma, most of the bilirubin is transported firmly bound to albumin. However, whether the pigment enters the brain bound to albumin or only after being detached from its albumin carrier has not been established.

[学科分类] 儿科学