Neonatal cholestasis and Niemann-pick type C disease: A literature review

Abstract

BackgroundNeonatal cholestasis (NC) is one of the most serious diseases in newborns and infants and results from metabolic disorders, such as Niemann-Pick type C (NPC), among other causes. ObjectiveWe evaluated the incidence of NPC in our NC plus lysosomal storage disease (LSD) suspicious neonates and infants series. MethodsThe study included children (≤3 years old) with a history of NC together with a suspicion of LSD, referred from Spanish Hospitals during the period 2011−2020. Screening for NPC was done by plasma biomarker assay (chitotriosidase activity and 7-ketocholesterol), and Sanger sequencing for NPC1 and NPC2 genes. ResultsWe screened NPC disease in 17 patients with NC plus organomegaly and that were LSD suspicious, finding 5 NPC patients (29.4%) and 2 carriers. ConclusionsOur results emphasize the need to study NPC when NC and visceral enlargement arise in a newborn or infant.