What are the treatments for jaundice?

Jaundice is a common symptom and sign. It occurs due to the increase in serum bilirubin concentration caused by bilirubin metabolism disorder. Clinically, the sclera, mucous membranes, skin and other tissues are stained yellow. Because the sclera contains more elastic hard protein, which has a strong affinity with bilirubin, the yellow staining of the sclera of jaundice patients is often noticed first before the mucous membranes and skin.

Treatment of jaundice

1. Hormone treatment test: Oral prednisone (prednisone) 10-15 mg, 3 times/d, for 5-7 days. After treatment, serum bilirubin of patients with intrahepatic cholestasis is often reduced by 40% to 50% compared with that before treatment. However, the bilirubin of patients with extrahepatic cholestasis does not decrease significantly after treatment. However, this test may have false positives or false negatives, so caution should be exercised when judging the results.

2. Phenobarbital treatment test: Phenobarbital has an inducing effect on glucuronyl transferase in liver microsomes and Na-K-ATPase in liver cells, and promotes the transport and excretion of bile. Oral administration of 30-60 mg of phenobarbital, 3-4 times/d, for 7 days is effective for intrahepatic cholestasis. The evaluation or judgment of its efficacy is the same as that of the prednisone test.

3. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA): Ursodeoxycholic acid stimulates bile secretion, reduces the retention of hydrophobic bile acids, and is conducive to the conversion to hydrophilic bile acids, thereby reducing cytotoxicity, protecting liver cells, and protecting bile duct epithelial cells from damage by hydrophobic bile acids. Therefore, it can be used to treat intrahepatic cholestasis. The commonly used dose of ursodeoxycholic acid is 10 mg/(kg.d). If ursodeoxycholic acid is used in combination with drugs such as methylprednisolone (prednisolone), the therapeutic effect can be significantly enhanced.