Neonatal Cholestasis: Definition, Clinical Manifestation and Management; A Mini Review

Abstract

Physiological jaundice of the newborn is a complex benign disease that rarely persists in the second week of life. Neonatal cholestasis (NC) is caused by a disorder in the formation of bile by liver cells or obstruction of the flow of bile through the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary tree, which leads to the accumulation of bile substances in the liver, blood, and extrahepatic tissues. This state may continue until the first 6 months of infancy, and its vulnerability to other cholestatic agents increases. This fact makes NC an uncommon feature of neonatal liver disease rather than a late manifestation. The aim of this paper is to review the definitions, etiologies, clinical manifestations, treatment, and management strategies for NC infants.