The course of neonatal cholestasis in congenital combined pituitary hormone deficiency.

BACKGROUND

Neonatal cholestatic hepatitis is frequently associated with congenital combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CCPHD). Data on the course of this hepatopathy are scarce.

AIM

We retrospectively analyzed the data of all CCPHD infants with cholestasis who presented at the University Children's Hospital, Tuebingen.

RESULTS

All infants (n = 9; 2 females) presented with early and prolonged jaundice, failure to thrive and recurrent hypoglycemia. All males had micropenis and 3/7 cryptorchidism. Median age at diagnosis was 1.4 months. Cholestasis began at a median age of 13 days (range 5-31) and resolved at 88 days (54-174). Maximum direct bilirubin level was 6.9 mg/dl (2.4-11.6). Peaks of ALP (median 721 U/l), ALT (148 U/l) and AST (195 U/l) occurred 2-4 weeks later, while GGT levels were elevated in only two infants (167 U/l). Functional liver parameters were always normal. Liver biopsies (n = 4) showed canalicular cholestasis and mild portal eosinophilic infiltration. TEBIDA radioisotope excretion into the intestinal tract was blocked. Substitution with Lthyroxine, hydrocortisone and growth hormone seemed to accelerate the cure from cholestasis. Liver function at follow-up (median 4 yr) stayed normal.

CONCLUSION

Cholestasis in CCPHD follows the course described here, frequently with normal GGT levels.