Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Various hepatic and biliary disorders could be met within neonatal intensive care units. They should be detected early and evaluated promptly. Aim: To assess the frequency and causes of liver dysfunction in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. Methods: Observational study conducted at both NICU units (Kasr Al-Aini and El Monira Children{u2019}s Hospital), Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. The study included all neonates admitted in NICU during 6 months duration from 15/5/2014 to 15/11/2014. Results: Liver dysfunction occurred in 42 (19%) of the 221 studied neonates due to primary or secondary liver diseases. Liver dysfunctions were in form of cholestasis, elevated liver enzymes or hepatomegly in frequency of 40.48%, 42.86%, 16.67% respectively. Liver impairment in neonates was due to secondary causes in 78.57%, primary causes in 14.29% and in 7.14% the cause was not determined. Primary liver affection occurred in six neonates out of 42 patients (14.29%), including neonatal hepatitis, arthrogryposis{u2013}renal dysfunction{u2013}cholestasis (ARC) syndrome, incomplete ARC or neonatal hepatitis sclerosing cholangitis (NISCH) syndrome, spontaneous perforation of bile duct and choledocal cyst; each diagnosis represented 2.38%. While Secondary liver diseases were due to hypoxia, sepsis, drugs, hemolysis or others, which was multifactorial in most of the cases. During a period of 6 months, 12 (28.6%) patients with liver affection passed away, two patients were referred to surgical NICU and 28 patients were discharged

Issued also as CD