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Crigler-Najjar syndrome occurs when a child has high levels of bilirubin in the blood.
214-456-8000
Fax: 214-456-1206
469-497-2505
F: 469-497-2511
469-488-7000
Fax: 469-488-7001
469-303-5000
Fax: 214-867-9511
Crigler-Najjar syndrome is a very rare disorder. It occurs when a child has high levels of bilirubin (a toxic byproduct of the normal breakdown of red blood cells) in the blood. Over time, excess bilirubin in the blood can lead to excess bilirubin in the brain and nerve tissues, which causes a form of brain damage known as kernicterus.
If untreated, kernicterus can cause a variety of neurological problems, such as involuntary muscle spasms of the body, hearing problems or intellectual disability.
Crigler-Najjar syndrome was first described by Dr. John Crigler and Dr. Victor Najjar in 1952 when the observed the condition in six infants of three related couples.
A gene mutation that is hereditary (passed down in families) causes Crigler-Najjar syndrome.