What is Dubin-Johnson Syndrome?

One potential cause of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) is a relatively rare disorder called Dubin-Johnson syndrome or idiopathic jaundice. This condition cannot be acquired because it is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means children only get it if they get a copy of the gene that causes it from both parents. The syndrome is usually not immediately apparent in childhood, and doesn’t emerge until kids are in their teens, when the skin may begin to look slightly yellow. Provided the reason causing it really is Dubin-Johnson syndrome, health is often not significantly impacted and most people with this illness have a normal lifespan.

Dubin-Johnson syndrome is essentially an expression of the body’s inability to normally dispose of bilirubin, which is created when red blood cells are broken down. Instead of bilirubin leaving the body, as it should, it accumulates in the body. Since the syndrome is relatively mild, this doesn’t necessarily pose significant health risk, and in the majority of cases, people with this condition don’t have any form of treatment. Doctors might want to closely follow patients with this disorder, checking to make certain liver function is good, but people with it don’t frequently need medication or significant medical intervention.

The condition can worsen under certain circumstances. People who drink alcohol may have more severe jaundice and compromise the liver. Oral contraceptives or birth control pills are thought to create problems too. Pregnancy is sometimes problematic, and some infections may impact the liver or create more bilirubin build-up.

Though remote, there is a possibility that bilirubin build-up may lead to serious complications. Its presence in the body may even affect the brain and cause serious issues. Although this is unlikely in Dubin-Johnson syndrome and usually only mild jaundice is noted, the condition still needs to be followed with care so that life-threatening complications don’t occur.

Any appearance of jaundice in teens or children is cause to see a physician. It is suggestive of poor liver function or possibly reactions to things like medications, viruses or infection. In rare instances, a physician will determine that the jaundice is Dubin-Johnson syndrome, though it might certainly be attributed to other things like hepatitis infection.

This illness may affect people in any ethnic or racial groups, but it seems most common in Iranian Jews and in people of Japanese descent. Due to rare complications of the disorder, those who’ve been diagnosed with it are encouraged to receive genetic counseling prior to having children. The condition can only be passed to offspring if both parents have a copy of the gene, and in these instances, there would be a 25% chance with each child of this illness occurring. Women with Dubin-Johnson syndrome have additional concerns if they want to have children, because bilirubin build-up may increase during pregnancy and create health risks, so they are advised to speak with their physicians prior to taking this step.