OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and influential factors of parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC) in preterm infants.

METHODA total of 159 infants with birth weight less than 2000 grams and/or gestational age less than 34 weeks were exposed to parenteral nutrition for longer than 14 days in NICU during the period from July 2007 to June 2009. Of these infants, 40 cases who had PNAC were aligned into the PNAC group, and the other 119 cases without PNAC were aligned into the non-PNAC group. PNAC occurring time, duration, the degree of PNAC and hepatic injury were observed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlative factors of PNAC.

RESULTPNAC occurred about (3.3 ± 1.6) weeks after beginning PN, usually lasted for (13.3 ± 5.4) weeks. The maximum direct bilirubin was (135.2 ± 65.5) µmol/L. Of the PNAC patients, 73.7% suffered from hepatic injury. Hepatic injury usually occurred (6.6 ± 3.0) weeks after beginning PN, and lasted for (9.5 ± 5.4) weeks. The highest alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was (121.5 ± 48.4) U/L. The logistic regression of the possible correlative factors showed that time to start enteric feeding, persistence time of PN, asphyxia, small for gestational age, intracranial hemorrhage, were related to PNAC.

CONCLUSIONThe prognosis of PNAC was good. Early enteral feeding, shorter time of PN, avoidance of the complications such as asphyxia and sepsis, were the important measures to lower PNAC.