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).


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Perez
E M
EM
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex 77030, USA.
Cooper
T R
TR
Moise
A A
AA
Ferry
G D
GD
Weisman
L E
LE
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid