Hyperbilirubinemia and Seizures: Understanding the Connection

Hyperbilirubinemia occurs when the liver doesn't process bilirubin fast enough. Bilirubin is a substance created as the body gets rid of old red blood cells in favor of new ones. If bilirubin collects in the brain, it can cause seizures.

Jaundice

• Since bilirubin is yellow, hyperbilirubinemia gives the skin and whites of the eyes a yellow cast, jaundice.

Hyperbilirubinemia in Newborns

• Newborns commonly develop jaundice: 60 percent of full-term babies and 80 percent of premature babies develop it, according to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Kernicterus

• Newborns who have very high bilirubin levels are at risk of kernicterus, the rare condition that occurs when bilirubin leaves the blood and gathers in brain tissue.

Kernicterus Symptoms

• Symptoms of kernicterus in its early stage include jaundice and lethargy and, in its next stage, seizures and a bulging soft spot. Severe kernicterus leads to brain damage, including retardation, and death.

Treatment

• Treatment includes phototherapy with blue lights or a fiber-optic blanket, exchange transfusion and cessation of breast-feeding.