Evaluation of jaundice

Last reviewed: 6 Apr 2025
Last updated: 13 Mar 2024

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Alcoholic liver disease
  • Choledocholithiasis
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Drug-induced liver injury
  • Ascending cholangitis
  • Pancreatic carcinoma
  • Liver metastases
  • Hemolytic anemia
  • Decompensated cirrhosis
  • Acute liver failure
  • Acute-on-chronic liver failure
Full details

Uncommon

  • Gilbert syndrome
  • Hepatitis E
  • Hepatitis D
  • Leptospirosis
  • Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) cholangiopathy
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
  • Postoperative stricture
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis
  • Primary biliary cholangitis
  • Wilson disease
  • Hereditary hemochromatosis
  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
  • Parasitic infections
  • AIDS cholangiopathy
  • Heart failure
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Janisha Patel, BSc, PhD, MBChB

Consultant Hepatologist

University Hospital Southampton

Southampton

UK

Disclosures

JP declares that she has no competing interests.

Alex Smith, MBChB MRCP

Hepatology Specialist Registrar

University Hospital Southampton

Southampton

UK

Disclosures

AS declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Janisha Patel and Dr Alex Smith would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Rene Ramnarace, Dr Harry R. Dalton, Dr Peter Draganov, and Dr Grant F. Hutchins, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

RR, HRD, PD, and GFH declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Jeffrey S. Upperman, MD, FACS, FAAP

Associate Professor of Surgery

Division of General Pediatric Surgery; Director of the Trauma Program

Children's Hospital

Los Angeles

CA

Disclosures

JSU declares that he has no competing interests.

Grant Sanders, MBBS

Consultant

Laparoscopic Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon

Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

UK

Disclosures

GS declares that he has no competing interests.

Jawad Ahmad, MD, FRCP, FAASLD

Professor of Medicine

Division of Liver Diseases

Mount Sinai Hospital

New York

NY

Disclosures

JA declares that he has no competing interests.

References

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Key articles

Jophlin LL, Singal AK, Bataller R, et al. ACG clinical guideline: alcohol-associated liver disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2024 Jan 1;119(1):30-54.Full text  Abstract

Fontana RJ, Liou I, Reuben A, et al. AASLD practice guidance on drug, herbal, and dietary supplement-induced liver injury. Hepatology. 2022 Jul 27 [Epub ahead of print].Full text  Abstract

Bajaj JS, O'Leary JG, Lai JC, et al. Acute-on-chronic liver failure clinical guidelines. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Feb 1;117(2):225-52.Full text  Abstract

Biggins SW, Angeli P, Garcia-Tsao G, et al. Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatorenal syndrome: 2021 practice guidance by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology. 2021 Aug;74(2):1014-48.Full text  Abstract

American College of Radiology. ACR appropriateness criteria: jaundice. 2018 [internet publication].Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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