Diseases

Kernicterus

A term used pathologically to describe BILIRUBIN staining of the BASAL GANGLIA; BRAIN STEM; and CEREBELLUM and clinically to describe a syndrome associated with HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA. Clinical features include athetosis, MUSCLE SPASTICITY or hypotonia, impaired vertical gaze, and DEAFNESS. Nonconjugated bilirubin enters the brain and acts as a neurotoxin, often in association with conditions that impair the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER (e.g., SEPSIS). This condition occurs primarily in neonates (INFANT, NEWBORN), but may rarely occur in adults. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p613)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A term used pathologically to describe BILIRUBIN staining of the BASAL GANGLIA; BRAIN STEM; and CEREBELLUM and clinically to describe a syndrome associated with HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA. Clinical features include athetosis, MUSCLE SPASTICITY or hypotonia, impaired vertical gaze, and DEAFNESS. Nonconjugated bilirubin enters the brain and acts as a neurotoxin, often in association with conditions that impair the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER (e.g., SEPSIS). This condition occurs primarily in neonates (INFANT, NEWBORN), but may rarely occur in adults. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p613)

MeSH Record

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Broader headings

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

8 entry terms
  • Bilirubin Encephalopathy
  • Encephalopathy, Bilirubin
  • Encephalopathy, Hyperbilirubinemic
  • Hyperbilirubinemic Encephalopathy
  • Bilirubin Encephalopathies
  • Encephalopathies, Bilirubin
  • Encephalopathies, Hyperbilirubinemic
  • Hyperbilirubinemic Encephalopathies

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

34 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C10w.228w.140w.163.480w
  2. C15.378w.295w.502w
  3. C16w.614.304w.502w
  4. C18.452w.132.480w
  5. C20w.306w.502w
  6. C23.550.429.750w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WL 362

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Kernicterus. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D007647. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D007647
  2. Kernicterus. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilirubin_encephalopathy
  3. Kernicterus. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q861845