hyperbilirubinemia

1 9.9

A high level of a blood substance that makes the skin and eyes yellow

noun
/ˌhaɪpərˌbɪləˈrubɪˌniːə/

Specialized

: hiperbilirrubinemia

A high level of bilirubin indicates hyperbilirubinemia.

Examples

The doctor explained that hyperbilirubinemia resulted from the liver not processing bilirubin effectively.
Hyperbilirubinemia can cause jaundice, making the skin and eyes appear yellow.
Doctors monitor patients with liver disease for signs of hyperbilirubinemia.
Newborns are often screened for hyperbilirubinemia in the first few days of life.
Severe hyperbilirubinemia can cause neurological complications if left untreated.
The doctor diagnosed her with hyperbilirubinemia.
Newborns often experience hyperbilirubinemia, which is monitored closely by pediatricians.

Compounds

hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn

Specialized

8.6

High levels of a yellow blood substance in newborn babies that make their skin and eyes yellow

neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Specialized

5.0

A high level of bilirubin in a newborn's blood that makes the skin and eyes yellow

Surface Forms

hyperbilirubinemia singular

hyperbilirubinemias plural

Morphology

hyperbilirubinemia = bilirubinemia (opaque) = hyper + bilirubin + emia

The word is built by adding hyper- to bilirubinemia, but the medical base bilirubinemia itself is specialized and not likely known by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Hyperbilirubinemia breaks into parts: hyper- meaning 'too much', bilirubin the yellow substance from the liver's 'bile', and -emia meaning 'in the blood', like in anemia. So hyperbilirubinemia literally means 'too much bilirubin in the blood', which is why it often causes yellow skin called jaundice.