Crigler-Najjar syndrome

views updated

Crigler-Najjar syndrome (kry-gler nah-jar) n. a genetic disease in which the liver enzyme glucuronyl transferase, responsible for dealing with bilirubin, is absent. Large amounts of bilirubin accumulate in the blood, and the child becomes progressively more jaundiced. Life expectancy is usually less than two years. [ J. F. Crigler (1919– ) and V. A. Najjar (1914– ), US paediatricians]

More From encyclopedia.com