Short- and long-term vitamin A treatment in children with cholestasis.
Newborns have limited reserve supplies of vitamin A. Infants with chronic cholestasis are in a precarious nutritional state because of their limited ability to build these stores even though the vitamin is present in their diet. In this study, we investigated liver concentrations of vitamin A in 30 children with extrahepatic biliary atresia. We demonstrate that correction of the deficiency occurs after intramuscular administration of a water-miscible solution of retinyl palmitate (100,000 IU, or 30 mg retinol equivalent). Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of vitamin A injections on liver and blood concentrations in nine children with chronic cholestasis over a 1-y period. We conclude this treatment is efficient and is well tolerated.
Amédée-Manesme
O
O
Département de Pédiatrie, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin, France.
Mourey
M S
MS
Therasse
J
J
Couturier
M
M
Alvarez
F
F
Hanck
A
A
Bernard
O
O
D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000209:etiology
D014801:Vitamin A