Yellow-tint jaundice

[WashMe]

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edit: I meant to make the title lemon-tint jaundice. Of course jaundice is yellow...

UWorld says that the classic presentation of B12 deficiency is a little old lady with lemon-tint jaundice (and other B12 deficiency symptoms). The lemon-tint jaundice is a mix of pallor (anemia) and jaundice (hemolysis-->heme-->bilirubin).

Is this special to megaloblastic anemia (e.g. B12 or folate deficiency, or prolonged chemotherapeutic use)? It seems like any form of anemia leading to a degree of hemolysis would result in lemon-tint jaundice. For instance, does G6PD deficiency result in lemon-tint jaundice? It causes hemolytic anemia, so you'd have pallor and heme breakdown products (-->jaundice), right?

 

[Fuzuli]

The color of jaundice is related to the accumulating substance, which is somewhat related to the pathologic process. For example, the yellow-tinted jaundice is historically called as "flavin icterus" and is related with ineffective erythropoiesis. Jaundice related with hepatic obstruction is named as "verdin icterus" as these patients (supposedly) have a green tint. In reality, anything is possible in any patient, regardless of etiology.

To summarize:

- Knowing different types of color in jaundice is only useful for pimping questions in medicine ward.

 

[WashMe]

Thanks! 🙂