Neonatal Cholestasis Flashcards
What is the specific therapy for early surgical correction of extrahepatic biliary atresia?
Kasai operation.
What is the treatment for sepsis and urinary tract infections in neonatal cholestasis?
Proper antibiotics.
How is galactosemia managed in neonatal cholestasis?
Elimination of lactose from the diet (lactose-free diet).
What is used to treat pruritus in neonatal cholestasis?
Bile acid binders like cholestyramine.
What is the treatment for varices in neonatal cholestasis?
Injection sclerotherapy or band ligation.
How is hepatic encephalopathy managed in neonatal cholestasis?
10% glucose infusion, enema, and oral neomycin.
What is the replacement therapy for fats in neonatal cholestasis?
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT).
Why is Vitamin K important in neonatal cholestasis?
It prevents serious bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage.
What is the daily dose of Vitamin E in neonatal cholestasis?
50 U/day.
What is the daily dose of Vitamin D in neonatal cholestasis?
5000 U/day.
What is the daily dose of Vitamin A in neonatal cholestasis?
100,000 U/day.
What is the commonest indication for liver transplantation in neonatal cholestasis?
Biliary atresia if the Kasai operation fails.
What is the Kasai operation?
Hepato-porto-enterostomy where the jejunum is anastomosed to patent ducts in the cut surface of the portal hepatis.
What is a postoperative complication of the Kasai operation?
Cholangitis (fever).
What is neonatal cholestasis?
Failure of normal bile to reach the duodenum due to liver or biliary disease.
What is the definition of hyperbilirubinemia in neonatal cholestasis?
Conjugated (direct) bilirubin > 20% of total bilirubin.
What is the function of bile in the body?
Digestion and absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
What is the role of the liver in bilirubin metabolism?
The liver removes bilirubin from the blood, conjugates it with glucuronic acid, and excretes it in bile.
What is the difference between direct and indirect bilirubin?
Direct bilirubin is conjugated and water-soluble, while indirect bilirubin is unconjugated and fat-soluble.
What is kernicterus?
A condition caused by unconjugated bilirubin crossing the blood-brain barrier.
What are the common bile duct lesions in neonatal cholestasis?
Extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) and choledochal cyst.
What infections can cause neonatal cholestasis?
Congenital infections like TORCH (CMV, Rubella, HSV, Toxoplasmosis) and acquired infections like neonatal sepsis or UTI.
What are some inborn errors of metabolism that can cause neonatal cholestasis?
Galactosemia, tyrosinemia, Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, cystic fibrosis, and bile acid biosynthetic defects.
What is idiopathic neonatal hepatitis?
Neonatal hepatitis with no evident etiology, historically the commonest cause of neonatal cholestasis.
What are familial cholestatic syndromes?
Conditions like Alagille syndrome and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) that affect bile salt transport.
What is Alagille syndrome?
An autosomal dominant disorder with intrahepatic bile duct hypoplasia.
What is progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC)?
A group of autosomal recessive disorders affecting bile salt transport, leading to jaundice, pruritus, and growth failure.
What is the treatment for familial cholestatic syndromes?
ADEK vitamins, ileal bile acid transporter inhibitors (IBAT), and liver transplantation.
Why is early differentiation between idiopathic neonatal hepatitis and EHBA important?
Early surgical correction of EHBA can prevent further hepatic damage.
What are the diagnostic criteria for cholestasis?
Serum bilirubin (total and direct) with direct bilirubin > 20% of total, high INR, and decreased prothrombin concentration.
What liver enzymes are checked in cholestasis?
AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and GGT.
What is the significance of GGT in cholestasis?
GGT is normal in PFIC type 1 and bile acid synthesis defects.
How is sepsis diagnosed in neonatal cholestasis?
CBC, ESR, CRP, and cultures (blood, CSF, urine).
How is galactosemia diagnosed?
Reducing substances in urine and enzyme assay in RBCs (galactose-1-phosphate).
What imaging is used to diagnose choledochal cysts?
Ultrasound or CT.
What metabolic screening is done for tyrosinemia?
Aminogram and succinyl acetone in urine.
How is cystic fibrosis diagnosed?
Sweat chloride test > 60 and genotyping.
What is the normal serum level of alpha-1 antitrypsin?
150-250 mg/dL.
What is TORCH screening?
Testing for total IgM antibodies against TORCH agents (CMV, Rubella, HSV, Toxoplasmosis).
What is the most important diagnostic tool for differentiating idiopathic neonatal hepatitis from EHBA?
Liver biopsy.
What is seen in a liver biopsy of idiopathic neonatal hepatitis?
Giant cell transformation and marked infiltration with inflammatory cells.
What is seen in a liver biopsy of EHBA?
Expansion of portal areas with fibrosis and bile duct proliferation.
What is the role of a HIDA scan in diagnosing cholestasis?
No dye excretion in biliary atresia; dye can reach the intestine in hepatitis.
What is a sign of biliary atresia on imaging?
Non-visualization or a micro-gallbladder after 4 hours of fasting.
What are the consequences of decreased bile delivery to the intestine?
Fat malabsorption (steatorrhea) and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies (A, D, E, K).
What are the clinical manifestations of cholestasis?
Persistent jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, and hepatomegaly.
What are the manifestations of TORCH infections in neonatal cholestasis?
Cataracts, microcephaly, hepatosplenomegaly (HSM), and low birth weight.
What are the manifestations of galactosemia in neonatal cholestasis?
Cataracts, convulsions, and hepatomegaly.
What are the manifestations of Alagille syndrome?
Wide-spaced eyes, triangular face, heart defects (PS or VSD), and vertebral arch defects.
What are the complications of prolonged cholestasis?
Liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, splenomegaly, and bleeding (hematemesis or intracranial hemorrhage).
What is the significance of pale stools in neonatal cholestasis?
Indicates decreased bile delivery to the intestine.