Hyperbilirubinemia Complications

Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition that occurs when bilirubin builds up in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that is produced by the liver, so when bilirubin is in excess, the skin and whites of the eyes begin to take on a yellow tint, which is a symptom known as jaundice. While hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition particularly in infants, the condition can cause severe complications, such as brain damage, in its most severe form.

Why Does Hyperbilirubinemia Affect Babies?

• Bilirubin's is created from the breakdown of red blood cells and is processed for removal by the liver so it does not appear in the stool. In a fetus, the placenta--not the baby's liver--removes bilirubin from the fetus. The bilirubin is then processed by the mother's liver. Therefore, when a baby is born, its liver may not be equipped to support bilirubin removal, which can cause increased levels.

  Hyperbilirubinemia is just one of two conditions that share jaundice symptoms. The other is physiologic jaundice, which indicates much lesser levels of bilirubin in the body. Hyperbilirubinemia is considered the more serious of the two conditions.

Brain-Related Complications

• If bilirubin levels are too high in a baby's body, the bilirubin can cross over to the brain and cause complications in function, which is known as encephalopathy. In adults, the condition is more easy to diagnose because symptoms include altered mental state, memory loss and inability to concentrate. Because newborns have not yet developed speech functions, this becomes more difficult to recognize and diagnose. The most common symptom is extreme sleepiness. A baby with brain damage related to hyperbilirubinemia may be difficult to awake or keep awake.

Temporary or Permanent Condition

• When bilirubin levels affect a child's brain, there are two types of conditions that can occur: the first is acute bilirubin encephalopathy, which is a temporary condition that can be treated with medications, diet and other measures to reduce bilirubin levels. However, in some babies a condition known as kernicterus occurs, which signifies permanent brain damage. Babies who have symptoms such as extreme sleepiness, a strange or high-pitched cry, fever and frequent arching of the back or spine, should be treated immediately to prevent further damage.

Other Complications

• According to MedLine Plus, other complications that can occur from hyperbilirubinemia include cerebral palsy and deafness. Both these conditions occur because elevated levels of bilirubin can slow the metabolism of nerve cells, according to Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. This makes the cells more vulnerable to staining, which can cause permanent damage to hearing or brain damage that results in cerebral palsy.

Prevention

• In the cases of most children with hyperbilirubinemia, if the disease is treated quickly enough, complication risks can be reduced. It also is important to remember that not only babies who have jaundice will experience significant complications related to a mild case. Therefore, it is important that a baby's bilirubin level be checked before leaving the hospital and then three days following hospital discharge. Feeding babies eight to 12 times per day also helps to reduce jaundice symptoms. Watching the baby closely for symptoms such as lethargy also is important to preventing further complications.