Treatment of obstructive jaundice in erythroblastosis fetalis with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA): a case report.

OBJECTIVE

To report a significant improvement of direct hyperbilirubinemia values, in an infant with cholestasis secondary to erythroblastosis fetalis, after treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

RESULTS

A full term infant, with total and direct bilirubin values of 26 mg/dl (445 micromol/l) and 24.5 mg/dl (419 micromol/l), respectively, on the third day of life, had total and direct bilirubin values of 8.2 mg/dl (140 micromol/l) and 6.9 mg/dl (118 micromol/l), respectively, after 2 days of treatment with UDCA. Because the natural course of this cholestasis takes several weeks to resolve, the observed improvement is highly suggestive of a direct effect of UDCA on the disease course.

CONCLUSION

This treatment may add a new therapeutic option to the limited measures available for this condition, although further studies regarding safety and its mechanism of action are needed before it can be routinely recommended.