What indicators should you look for in jaundice?
Jaundice is a common clinical symptom, mainly characterized by yellow staining of the skin, mucous membranes and sclera, usually caused by abnormal bilirubin metabolism. The diagnosis and treatment of jaundice rely on a number of indicators. The following is a summary and analysis of jaundice-related indicators in hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. Classification and common causes of jaundice

Jaundice can be divided into three categories: hemolytic jaundice, hepatocellular jaundice and obstructive jaundice. Different categories of jaundice have different corresponding indicators.
| Type of jaundice | Common causes | key indicators |
|---|---|---|
| hemolytic jaundice | Hemolytic anemia, drug reactions, etc. | Increased indirect bilirubin and increased reticulocyte count |
| hepatocellular jaundice | Hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc. | Both direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin are elevated, and ALT/AST is abnormal. |
| obstructive jaundice | Bile duct stones, tumors, etc. | Significant increase in direct bilirubin and increase in ALP/GGT |
2. Core indicators for jaundice diagnosis
The following are commonly used laboratory indicators in the diagnosis of jaundice and their clinical significance:
| Indicator name | normal range | abnormal meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Total bilirubin (TBIL) | 3.4-17.1 μmol/L | Elevated levels suggest jaundice |
| Direct bilirubin (DBIL) | 0-6.8 μmol/L | Elevated levels suggest hepatocellular or bile duct disease |
| Indirect bilirubin (IBIL) | 1.7-10.2 μmol/L | Elevated levels suggest hemolysis or genetic disease |
| Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) | 7-40U/L | Elevated levels indicate liver cell damage |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | 13-35U/L | Elevated levels indicate liver cell or myocardial damage |
| Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) | 40-150 U/L | Elevated levels suggest bile duct obstruction or bone disease |
| Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) | 7-45 U/L | Elevated levels suggest bile duct disease or alcoholic liver disease |
3. Auxiliary examination of jaundice
In addition to laboratory indicators, the diagnosis of jaundice also requires a combination of imaging and other examination methods:
| Check items | clinical significance |
|---|---|
| abdominal ultrasound | Screening for bile duct dilation, stones or tumors |
| CT/MRI | Further clarify the location and cause of obstruction |
| ERCP | Diagnosis and treatment of bile duct obstruction |
| liver biopsy | Determine the nature of hepatocellular lesions |
4. Treatment principles of jaundice
The treatment of jaundice requires a personalized plan based on the cause:
1.hemolytic jaundice: Mainly to treat the primary disease, such as correcting anemia and stopping suspected drugs.
2.hepatocellular jaundice: Hepatoprotective treatment (such as glycyrrhizic acid preparations), antiviral treatment (for viral hepatitis).
3.obstructive jaundice: Relieve obstruction (such as ERCP stone removal, stent placement), and perform surgical treatment if necessary.
5. Recent hot topics
1.neonatal jaundice: Recently, many places have reported a high incidence of neonatal jaundice. Experts remind that bilirubin levels need to be monitored to avoid the occurrence of kernicterus.
2.drug-induced liver injury: A case of jaundice caused by a certain internet celebrity's weight-loss drug triggered discussion, suggesting the need to pay attention to drug hepatotoxicity monitoring.
3.AI-assisted diagnosis: New research shows that artificial intelligence can predict the cause of jaundice through bilirubin indicators, with an accuracy of more than 85%.
Summary
The diagnosis of jaundice requires a combination of multiple indicators such as bilirubin and liver enzymes, as well as imaging examinations to determine the cause. Timely identification of the type of jaundice is crucial for treatment. People who develop jaundice symptoms should seek medical examination promptly.
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