Crigler Najjar syndrome

The Crigler Najjar syndrome - A rare genetic disorder in which there is an absence or lack of the liver enzyme that breaks down bilirubin (the yellowish pigment in the digestive juice bile) for excretion.

The condition appears in early childhood. Children with Crigler–Najjar syndrome have jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, due to a buildup of bilirubin in the blood).

In some children, the liver enzyme is completely absent, and the condition is fatal by about two years of age. Some other children may just have insufficient amounts of the enzyme, and may live into adulthood. A liver transplant may be the only effective treatment for the syndrome.