EVALU ATI ON OF THE CAUSES OF CHOLESTASIS IN INFANTS

During a period of three years from 1996 to 1998, 124 infants (64 male and 60 female) with an age range of 1-6 months (mean age 1.5 months) with cholestasis were studied. Idiopathic neonatal hepatitis was the most common cause of cholestasis, accounting for 48 cases with a rate of 3'8.70% in a total of 124 patients, followed by galactosemia in 29 patients (23.38%) and extrahepatic biliary atresia in 20 patients (16.12%). The prompt identification and diagnostic assessment of these infants are imperative to early surgical intervention (e.g. in biliary atresia) and specific medical therapy (e.g. in galactosemia) and in order to institute effective nutritional and medical support to allow optimal growth and development and prevent progressive liver disease and death.