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Updated: Jul 28, 2025
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How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
Published on: August 19, 2020
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Kernicterus on the Spectrum
Yair Kasirer1,2, Michael Kaplan2, Cathy Hammerman1,2
1Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Neoreviews
|May 31, 2023
Summary
Kernicterus, a severe brain injury from high bilirubin levels in newborns, remains a global health issue. This review clarifies its nomenclature, subtypes, risk factors, and potential treatments for better understanding and management.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
Background:
- Kernicterus is a severe neurological complication of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
- Unconjugated bilirubin crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing irreversible brain damage, particularly in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and auditory system.
- Despite advances, kernicterus persists globally, affecting both developing and industrialized nations.
Approach:
- This review aims to standardize the nomenclature for kernicterus spectrum disorder.
- It discusses various subtypes, including motor-predominant, auditory neural sensory dysfunction, subtle kernicterus, and kernicterus plus.
- Genetic risk factors and potential therapeutic strategies are also examined.
Key Points:
- Clarifying nomenclature is crucial for a uniform definition of kernicterus spectrum disorder.
- Understanding diverse subtypes aids in accurate diagnosis and targeted interventions.
- Identifying genetic predispositions and exploring novel therapies are vital for prevention and treatment.
Conclusions:
- A unified approach to defining kernicterus spectrum disorder is needed.
- Further research into genetic factors and therapeutic interventions holds promise for mitigating kernicterus.
- Addressing kernicterus requires a global effort, considering its persistent prevalence.
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