Can high bilirubin cause brain damage in adults?
If bilirubin levels are high, substances formed when bile is broken down may accumulate, causing itching all over the body. But jaundice itself causes few other symptoms in adults. However, in newborns with jaundice high bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia) can cause a form of brain damage called kernicterus.Click to see full answer. Thereof, at what level…
If bilirubin levels are high, substances formed when bile is broken down may accumulate, causing itching all over the body. But jaundice itself causes few other symptoms in adults. However, in newborns with jaundice high bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia) can cause a form of brain damage called kernicterus.Click to see full answer. Thereof, at what level does bilirubin cause brain damage in adults?Kernicterus occurs when bilirubin levels in the blood become so high that it crosses the blood-brain barrier and damages the brain tissue. The condition is almost always related to severe jaundice.Additionally, what is a dangerous level of bilirubin in adults? Adults with jaundice generally have bilirubin levels greater than 2.5 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). In an otherwise healthy newborn, bilirubin levels greater than 20 to 25 mg/dL may cause problems. Considering this, how does bilirubin cause brain damage? Jaundice can cause brain damage when bilirubin levels get too high and the bilirubin enters the baby’s brain tissue. High bilirubin levels can cause serious forms of brain damage such as kernicterus disease, cerebral palsy, and encephalopathy.Can high bilirubin cause death?However, very high unconjugated bilirubin levels over time (weeks) can be neurotoxic and can even cause death or lifelong neurological problems (kernicterus) in those who survive. Newborn jaundice may be the result of an underlying problem, for example: A family history of Gilbert syndrome. Genetic problems.
