New study reveals potential means of treating jaundice

Scientists at Canada's University of Guelph have revealed results from a study showing how a liver enzyme can protect cells from damage caused by jaundice.

Called cytochrome P450 2A5, the enzyme is known to increase in people with liver ailments and can break down bilirubin, the substance that collects in the bloodstream among people affected by jaundice.

Although the condition is usually benign, severe cases can cause permanent brain damage and lead to cerebral palsy and hearing loss, with standard treatment options involving the use of ultraviolet light demonstrating an unreliable performance.

Researchers now need to determine whether a safe and effective level of the enzyme can help to treat jaundice.

Study co-author and biomedical sciences professor Gordon Kirby said: "We need to fine-tune our ability to manipulate this enzyme and fully understand its role in bilirubin removal."

Newborn babies are often born with the symptoms of jaundice, though it can also affect middle-aged and elderly people in many circumstances, causing yellowing of the skin.