Neonatal cholestasis syndrome in an very low birth weight (VLBW) premature – case presentation

Abstract

Cholestasis syndrome is one of the most challenging diagnoses in neonatal pathology (with an incidence of 1/2500 live births), especially in preterm babies. Biliary athresia is the most frequent cause of neonatal cholestasis (25-35%). Without an early diagnosis in the neonatal period and proper surgical intervention, it leads irreversibly to hepatic cirrhosis. The first approach in the management of neonatal cholestasis is to determine the level of direct bilirubin in every patient who associates prolonged jaundice (more than 14 days for term babies and 21 days for preterm babies). This paper presents a case study of a preterm baby with an early onset of neonatal E. coli sepsis complicated with neonatal cholestasis syndrome and modified results at the metabolic screening.