Classified by the site of the problem - pre-hepatic, hepatocellular or cholestatic/obstructive
Or by the type of circulating bilirubin - conjugated or unconjugated
Unconjugated
- Water insoluble - does not enter urine
- Overproduction: haemolysis (malaria/DIC)
- Impaired hepatic uptake - drugs (Paracetamol, rifampicin), ischaemic Hepatitis
Conjugated
- Water soluble - excreted in urine making it darker
- Failure of conjugated bilirubin to be excreted by the gall bladder into the intestines can cause pale stools