An Insight Into Neonatal Cholestasis; A Tertiary Care Hospital Experience in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Objective: To determine the frequencies of various etiologies of neonatal cholestasis diagnosed by clinical findings and laboratory investigations at the Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pediatric Department of Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan 2021 to Apr 2022. Methodology: Infants of either gender aged 14 days to six months admitted to Inpatient facility who had jaundice with direct bilirubin and more than 20% of total bilirubin were included in the study. The proforma was formulated to record the clinical features, laboratory investigations, weight, level of activity and consanguinity among the parents. Results: A total of 146 infants were included in the study. Jaundice was seen in 100% of infants, hepatomegaly in 66.4%, splenomegaly in 38.4%, followed by ascites in 25%. The most common aetiology of neonatal cholestasis was Biliary Atresia 26.7% in the extrahepatic Group, Idiopathic Neonatal Hepatitis 25.3% in the intrahepatic Group. Consanguinity was present in parents of 65% of infants. Conclusion: The most common aetiology of extrahepatic Neonatal Cholestasis was Biliary Atresia, while Idiopathic Neonatal Hepatitis and Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis were the most common causes of intrahepatic cholestasis.