Dubin-Johnson Syndrome Diagnosis

Sample
- Blood needed to get the serum.
- A random sample can be taken.
Definition
- Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJ) is benign, looks like mild viral hepatitis.
- It is characterized by mild recurrent jaundice with hepatomegaly.
Pathophysiology
- This is a rare genetic autosomal recessive disorder.
- This is due to the inability to transport bilirubin-diglucuronide through the parenchymal hepatic cells into bile canaliculi.
- This is a defect in the canalicular multispecific organic anion transport associated with increased plasma conjugated bilirubin.
- There is mild jaundice with total bilirubin 2 to 5 mg/dL.
- The liver has intense dark pigmentation due to the accumulation of lipofuscin pigment.
- While the conjugation of bilirubin is normal.
Sign and symptom
- There is a yellowness of eyes and skin due to hyperbilirubinemia.
- Mild jaundice, which may not appear until puberty or adulthood, this is the only symptom of Dubin-Johnson syndrome.
- The jaundice is nonpruritic.
- Mostly the patients are asymptomatic.
Risk factors which increase jaundice:
- Infection.
- Pregnancy.
- Birth control pills.
- Use of alcohol.
- Environmental factors which may affect the liver.
Diagnosis
- Serum bilirubin is raised (maybe 3 to 10 mg/ 100 ml). Approximately 50% is indirect bilirubin.
- Serum SGOT and SGPT (ALT, AST) are normal.
- Urine contains bile and urobilinogen.
- Liver biopsy shows plenty of yellow pigments or black pigments in the hepatocytes and gives the liver a black appearance.
- Cholecystography shows the absence of gallbladder.
Treatment
- This is a benign disease and does not need any specific treatment.
- This patient should be given the warning for follow-up in case of pregnancy, oral contraceptives, and any illness which leads to an increase in the bilirubin level.
- Phenobarbitone was used but not now recommended.
The outcome of the disease
The picture is not gloomy and it does not shorten the lifespan of the patient.