kernicterus

kernicterus /ker·nic·ter·us/ (ker-nik´ter-us) [Ger.] a condition with severe neural symptoms, associated with high levels of bilirubin in the blood.

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ker·nic·ter·us (kûr-nktr-s)

n.

A grave form of jaundice of the newborn characterized by very high levels of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood and by yellow staining and degenerative lesions in the cerebral gray matter. Also called nuclear jaundice.

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Kernicterus

A potentially lethal disease of newborns caused by excessive accumulation of the bile pigment bilirubin.

Mentioned in: Biliary Atresia, Neonatal Jaundice

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kernicterus

[kərnik′tərəs]

Etymology: Ger, kern, kernel; Gk, ikteros, jaundice

an abnormal toxic accumulation of bilirubin in central nervous system tissues caused by hyperbilirubinemia. See also hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn.

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kernicterus [ker-nik´ter-us]

a condition in the newborn marked by severe neural symptoms, associated with high levels of bilirubin in the blood; it is commonly a sequela of icterus gravis neonatorum.

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kernicterus

(kurnik´trs),
n a form of brain damage seen in newborns that is caused by an excessive level of red blood cells (polycythemia). As the body breaks down the red blood cells, bilirubin, a byproduct of cell destruction, becomes elevated and results in excessive jaundice. Typical symptoms include lethargy, high-pitched crying, and decreased muscle tone with intermittent periods of increased muscle tone. As the condition progresses, the newborn may exhibit a fever and may arch the head backward in a condition known as opisthotonus, or retrocollis.

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kernicterus

bilirubin toxicity; may occur with severe hyperbilirubinemia. Rarely observed in dogs and cats.

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kernicterus

Bilirubin encephalopathy Neonatology The staining of parts of the infant brain, especially the basal ganglia and hippocampus by BR that has penetrated the blood-brain barrier which, in older children, is more impervious to bilirubin; kernicterus is classically linked to Rh HDN, when the immune system of a mother who does not have the RhD–less commonly C, c, E, e, or other antigen on her RBCs, comes in contact with the infant's RBCs and forms antibodies to them; this causes a brisk hemolysis and ↑ BR; serum levels of ≥ 20 mg/dL of BR pose
a high risk for kernicterus, and represent a medical emergency; severe kernicterus is often fatal, and characterized by lethargy, poor feeding, hypertonicity, seizures and apnea; survivors have sequelae in the form of dental dysplasia, cerebral palsy, hearing loss Clinical, full term infants Severe jaundice, lethargy, poor feeding, choreoathetoid cerebral palsy, mental retardation, sensorineural hearing loss, gaze paresis. See Hemolytic disease of the newborn, Jaundice.