Parenteral nutrition and neonatal cholestasis

A study to assess the validity of reports that cholestasis occurs during the course of parenteral nutrition for premature and newborn infants is described. Since detection of cholestasis is dependent on the occurrence of hyperbilirubemia during parenteral alimentation, the serum bile acid concentration was determined prospectively in a group of infants, some of whom required long-term parenteral nutrition. Results demonstrated that, except for patients with sepsis, no relationship exists between the length or the components of parenteral nutrition and the incidence of cholestasis.