Intrahepatic cholestasis with parental alimentation.

From July 1971 to March 1975, elevan infants receiving total or partial parenteral alimentation at the University of Florida showed histologic evidence of intrahepatic cholestasis. The clinical records of these patients have been examined. These infants were critically ill and had protracted hospital courses with only two survivors. Liver biopsies demonstrated marked cholestasis with some fibrosis and thickening of the limiting membrane of the hepatocyte. In those patients in whom serial liver biopsies were obtained, hepatic histology returned toward normal, paralleling improvement in liver function studies, as intravenous alimentation was discontinued. Careful monitoring of the liver function tests is essential to detect this progressive abnormality as early as possible and discontinue intravenous alimentation. Follow-up as long as two and a half years in the two surviving patients has demonstrated no chronic dysfunction.