Symptom 2: Jaundice
Jaundice is a term many might have heard but might not fully grasp. It’s a visual symptom, characterized by a distinct yellowing of the skin and eyes. The root cause? A pigment called bilirubin. Under normal circumstances, our liver efficiently processes and eliminates bilirubin. However, in AIH patients, this process gets disrupted.
The result is an accumulation of bilirubin in the bloodstream, which subsequently gets deposited in various tissues, leading to the telltale yellow hue. It’s akin to a car’s check engine light, signaling that something’s amiss with the liver. But why should one be concerned about elevated bilirubin levels?
Bilirubin, in high concentrations, can be toxic. While the yellowing itself might seem benign, it’s indicative of the liver’s diminished capacity to perform its functions. A compromised liver can have cascading effects on overall health, and jaundice serves as a visual alarm of this underlying issue. (2)
