The prevalence, etiology and influences of demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters on the outcome of cholestasis were evaluated in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Forty-one (6%) of 682 VLBW infants developed cholestasis. The mean gestational age was 29.9 ± 2.5 weeks and mean birth weight was 1089 ± 240 grams. Seventeen (41.4%) infants were small for gestational age. The etiology was multifactorial, and the most frequently identified etiological factors were parenteral nutrition and sepsis. Fourteen (34%) infants died during the follow-up. Apgar scores, serum total and direct bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were similar between surviving and deceased infants. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels were higher in infants who survived (p<0.05). Cholestasis appeared earlier in infants who died when compared with those who survived (median 5 days vs 23.5 days, p<0.05). In conclusion, early development of neonatal cholestasis was associated with poor prognosis. Awareness of the prognostic factors associated with cholestasis in VLBW infants could lead to appropriate management and prevent unnecessary evaluation.

Keywords: yenidoğan, kolestaz, düşük doğum ağırlıklı bebek.