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The medical condition most commonly associated with high bilirubin levels leading to jaundice is hepatitis. Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver, often caused by viral infections, toxic substances, or autoimmune diseases. When the liver is damaged or inflamed, its ability to process and eliminate bilirubin, a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells, is impaired. This leads to an accumulation of bilirubin in the bloodstream, which manifests as jaundice—characterized by yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

In contrast, while cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and nephritis are serious conditions, they do not typically lead to elevated bilirubin levels as a direct effect. Cholecystitis primarily involves inflammation of the gallbladder, pancreatitis involves inflammation of the pancreas, and nephritis is associated with kidney inflammation. These conditions may cause other symptoms or complications but do not usually result in jaundice through bilirubin metabolism disruption in the same way that hepatitis does.