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Kernicterus - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Encefalopatía bilirrubínica

Definición:

Es una afección neurológica poco común que ocurre en algunos recién nacidos con ictericia severa.

Ver también: ictericia del recién nacido

Causas:

El kernicterus es causado por niveles muy altos de bilirrubina, un pigmento amarillo que se crea en el cuerpo durante el reciclaje normal de los glóbulos rojos viejos. Los niveles altos de bilirrubina en el cuerpo pueden hacer que la piel luzca de color amarillo, lo cual se denomina ictericia.

En algunos casos, cuando hay niveles sumamente altos de bilirrubina en el cuerpo o el bebé está extremadamente enfermo, la sustancia se movilizará por fuera de la sangre y se acumulará en el tejido cerebral. Esto puede llevar a complicaciones neurológicas serias, incluyendo daño en el cerebro e hipoacusia.

El kernicterus normalmente se desarrolla en la primera semana de vida, pero puede observarse hasta la tercera semana. Los recién nacidos con enfermedad hemolítica del Rh que puede llevar a hidropesía fetal están en alto riesgo de presentar ictericia grave que conduce a esta afección. Sin embargo, el kernicterus se ha visto en bebés aparentemente saludables.

  • Reviewed last on: 5/9/2011
  • Kimberly G Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Hospital stay for healthy term newborns. Pedatrics. 2010; 125: 405.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Subcommittee on Hyperbilirubinemia Management of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation. Pediatrics. 2004;114: 297-316.

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