Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition characterized by an excess buildup of bilirubin--a substance produced by the breakdown of red blood cells--in the bloodstream. While transient hyperbilirubinemia is especially common among newborns who are breast feeding, the condition can be chronic, flaring up and remitting across a lifespan. Those who inherit or develop certain types of infections or diseases are at higher risk of developing the condition.
Inherited and Cultural Risk Factors
Hyperbilirubinemia can be genetically transmitted. For example, transient familial hyperbilirubinemia is a disorder that runs in families that impairs an individual's ability to process bilirubin. Infants born with this condition typically show immediate signs of jaundice--namely, yellowish skin and whites of the eyes.
According to the National Institutes of Health, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and Crigler-Najjar syndrome--inherited diseases that indirectly cause hyperbilirubinemia by impairing the functioning of important proteins and enzymes--are also known risk factors.
Another inherited disease called Gilbert's syndrome also affects the way bilirubin is metabolized. According to MayoClinic.com, the disease is passed down to a newborn if both parents carry the mutated gene. Those with the condition may experience bouts of mild jaundice during times of stress or illness.
According to the National Institutes of Health, babies of East Asian descent are also at higher risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia.
Breast Feeding and Breast Milk
Breast-fed babies are at higher risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants who do not get enough breast milk during feedings may develop the disorder because there is not enough milk moving through the intestine to facilitate bilirubin processing and removal from the body. This can occur in premature infants whose mother's breasts are not yet producing enough milk, or among infants who have trouble latching on or emptying the mother's breast.
In other cases, the breast milk itself appears to contain a substance that interferes with the processing of bilirubin. As the baby continues to breast feed, something in the milk impairs the liver's normal functioning, causing bilirubin to recirculate in the body. Usually not considered serious, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that breast feeding and breast milk-induced hyperbilirubinemia usually resolve within the first three to six weeks after birth.
Increased Red Blood Cell Count
Anything that causes an increase in the number of red blood cells in the body is a risk factor for hyperbilirubinemia. For example, according to the National Institutes of Health, babies whose blood types are incompatible with their mothers, those born with certain anemias such as elliptocytosis that cause the red blood cells to take on an abnormal shape and those who have had a blood transfusion are at higher risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia.
Infection
According to the National Institutes of Health, various infections occurring during infancy or transmitted from mother to child in utero can increase the risk of hyperbilirubinemia. Some of these conditions may include congenital herpes virus infections, congenital syphilis, congenital rubella and sepsis--a dangerous blood-borne infection that can occur in babies whose immune systems are compromised or who have been exposed to certain types of bacteria.
