Aetiology

The most common cause of a pre-hepatic jaundice is physiological neonatal jaundice.

Less common causes include:

• haemolytic anaemia - immune or autoimmune
• red cell abnormalities causing haemolysis - hereditary spherocytosis
• ineffective erythropoiesis e.g. pernicious anaemia
• severe rhabdomyolysis with release of myoglobin
• bleeding into tissues e.g. in sports injuries
• congenital deficiency of conjugating enzymes:
  • Gilbert's syndrome
  • Crigler Najjar syndrome
• breast milk jaundice