Emergency: requires immediate attention
Kernicterus of newborn
Alerts and Notices
Important News & Links
Synopsis
Kernicterus is a form of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia resulting in neurotoxicity and brain damage. Involved areas of the brain include the nuclear region, basal ganglia, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (BIND) is the term for the spectrum of clinical neurologic manifestations caused by bilirubin-related neurotoxicity, with kernicterus lying on the severe end. Complications of kernicterus include brain damage, sensorineural hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and permanent gaze defects.
There are many risk factors than can lead to BINDs. Increased bilirubin production can be caused by conditions that lead to increased immune and nonimmune related hemolysis. These include blood group incompatibilities between mother and infant (Rh, ABO, and minor antigens), enzyme defects (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency), abnormal RBC morphology (spherocytosis), deep bruising, and cephalohematomas. Conditions that lead to impaired bilirubin metabolism, such as Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1, can also can cause severe hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus.
Additional risk factors include breast-feeding, sepsis, prematurity, acidosis, hypoalbuminemia, and dehydration.
Kernicterus is largely a preventable disease with early detection of rising bilirubin levels, and appropriate treatment includes phototherapy and exchange transfusions. There are many available published guidelines for the management of hyperbilirubinemia and prevention of kernicterus.
There are many risk factors than can lead to BINDs. Increased bilirubin production can be caused by conditions that lead to increased immune and nonimmune related hemolysis. These include blood group incompatibilities between mother and infant (Rh, ABO, and minor antigens), enzyme defects (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency), abnormal RBC morphology (spherocytosis), deep bruising, and cephalohematomas. Conditions that lead to impaired bilirubin metabolism, such as Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1, can also can cause severe hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus.
Additional risk factors include breast-feeding, sepsis, prematurity, acidosis, hypoalbuminemia, and dehydration.
Kernicterus is largely a preventable disease with early detection of rising bilirubin levels, and appropriate treatment includes phototherapy and exchange transfusions. There are many available published guidelines for the management of hyperbilirubinemia and prevention of kernicterus.
Codes
ICD10CM:
P57.9 – Kernicterus, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
50143004 – Kernicterus of newborn
P57.9 – Kernicterus, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
50143004 – Kernicterus of newborn
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential
Subscription Required
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Updated:06/20/2022
Emergency: requires immediate attention
Kernicterus of newborn