The simulation traces bilirubin from red blood cell breakdown through hepatic conjugation and biliary excretion, showing how increased hemolysis or reduced liver conjugation capacity push bilirubin past the visible jaundice and kernicterus thresholds.
Adjust the hemolysis rate and liver conjugation capacity sliders to see bilirubin accumulate in the blood, and watch the 3D pathway highlight which processing step becomes the bottleneck as thresholds are crossed.
Sliders for hemolysis rate and liver conjugation capacity, with a 3D pathway view highlighting bottlenecks and threshold crossings
Phototherapy for newborn jaundice works by using blue light to chemically convert unconjugated bilirubin into a water-soluble form the body can excrete directly, completely bypassing the liver's immature conjugation enzyme.
The simulation traces bilirubin from red blood cell breakdown through hepatic conjugation and biliary excretion, showing how increased hemolysis or reduced liver conjugation capacity push bilirubin past the visible jaundice and kernicterus thresholds.
The simulation traces bilirubin from red blood cell breakdown through hepatic conjugation and biliary excretion, showing how increased hemolysis or reduced liver conjugation capacity push bilirubin past the visible jaundice and kernicterus thresholds.
Adjust the hemolysis rate and liver conjugation capacity sliders to see bilirubin accumulate in the blood, and watch the 3D pathway highlight which processing step becomes the bottleneck as thresholds are crossed.
Phototherapy for newborn jaundice works by using blue light to chemically convert unconjugated bilirubin into a water-soluble form the body can excrete directly, completely bypassing the liver's immature conjugation enzyme.