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Bile bilirubin pigment analysis in disorders of bilirubin metabolism in early infancy.
- Source :
-
Archives of disease in childhood [Arch Dis Child] 2001 Jul; Vol. 85 (1), pp. 38-42. - Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of Crigler-Najjar syndrome, which causes prolonged unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia in infancy, is important, as orthotopic liver transplantation is the definitive treatment.<br />Aim: To determine whether bilirubin pigment analysis of bile in infants with prolonged unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia provides useful diagnostic information in the first 3 months of life.<br />Methods: Retrospective review of patients with prolonged unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia referred to the liver unit, Birmingham Children's Hospital, for the diagnosis of Crigler-Najjar syndrome. Bile bilirubin pigment composition was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Initial diagnoses were made based on the result of bile bilirubin pigment composition. Final diagnoses were made after reviewing the clinical course, response to phenobarbitone, repeat bile bilirubin pigment composition analysis, and genetic studies.<br />Results: Between 1992 and 1999, nine infants aged less than 3 months of age with prolonged hyperbilirubinaemia underwent bile bilirubin pigment analyses. Based on these, two children were diagnosed with Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS) type 1, six with CNS type 2, and one with Gilbert's syndrome. Five children whose initial diagnosis was CNS type 2 had resolution of jaundice and normalisation of serum bilirubin after discontinuing phenobarbitone, and these cases were thought to be normal or to have Gilbert's syndrome. One of the initial cases of CNS type 1 responded to phenobarbitone with an 80% reduction in serum bilirubin consistent with CNS type 2. In all, the diagnoses of six cases needed to be reviewed.<br />Conclusions: Early bile pigment analysis, performed during the first 3 months of life, often shows high levels of unconjugated bilirubin or bilirubin monoconjugates, leading to the incorrect diagnosis of both type 1 and type 2 Crigler-Najjar syndrome.
- Subjects :
- Bilirubin analysis
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Crigler-Najjar Syndrome complications
Crigler-Najjar Syndrome metabolism
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Errors
Female
Genetic Testing
Gilbert Disease complications
Gilbert Disease diagnosis
Gilbert Disease metabolism
Humans
Hyperbilirubinemia diagnosis
Hyperbilirubinemia etiology
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Mutation
Phenobarbital
Predictive Value of Tests
Retrospective Studies
Bile Pigments analysis
Crigler-Najjar Syndrome diagnosis
Hyperbilirubinemia metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1468-2044
- Volume :
- 85
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Archives of disease in childhood
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11420196
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.85.1.38