Idiopathic Cholestasis in the Neonatal Period

In a recent study (Nakai and Landing, 1961) it has been shown that, apart from bile duct atresia which may be intra-or extra-hepatic, the diseases associated with bile stasis in the first three months of life are hepatitis, erythroblastosis foetalis, galacto- saemia and congenital gastro-intestinal anomalies such as duodenal atresia. It has also been shown that premature babies are predisposed to the develop- ment of cholestasis. It is suggested by the authors of this study that as well as bile duct obstruction, biochemical dysfunction of liver cells and possibly disturbance of hepatic blood flow may cause bile stasis and are therefore relevant to the development of the inspissated bile syndrome.