| Glossary

Jaundice

Also known as: Icterus
Yellowing of the skin and whites (sclerae) of the eyes, caused by an accumulation of the bile pigment bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice is a symptom of several disorders:
  1. most commonly, obstruction (e.g., by a gallstone) of the ducts that carry bile to the intestine
  2. disease of the liver due to infection (e.g., hepatitis), alcoholism, poisons, or other factor; and
  3. anaemia when it is caused by excessive destruction of red blood cells
©2001 - by American Association for Clinical Chemistry