Icterus

The yellow discoloration of skin, sclerae, and other tissues due to deposition of bile pigments from elevated serum bilirubin (normal range: 1.7-20.5 µmol/L or 0.1-1.2 mg/dL), reflecting impaired bilirubin metabolism or excretion. Prehepatic icterus is caused by hemolysis (sickle cell disease, malaria, thalassemia). Hepatic icterus is related to conditions that injure the liver cells, impairing the organ's ability to filter bilirubin (hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, Gilbert's syndrome). Post-hepatic causes result from an obstruction in the bile ducts (gallstones, cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis).