title: Neonatal liver physiology.
abstract: In the neonate, the liver is relatively immature and undergoes several changes in its functional capacity during the early postnatal period. The essential liver functions can be classified into three categories: metabolism, detoxification, and bile synthesis. In general, the immature liver function has limited consequences on the healthy term neonate. However, preterm neonates are particularly susceptible to the effects of the immature liver function placing them at risk of hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, cholestasis, bleeding, and impaired drug metabolism. An appreciation of the dynamic changes in liver function during the neonatal period is essential for successful management of neonates who require medical and surgical interventions. This review will focus on the neonatal liver function as well as the changes that the liver undergoes as it matures.
authors: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Grijalva
authors: Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115. Electronic address: Khashayar.Vakili@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors: Khashayar
authors: K
authors: Vakili
mesh_terms: D001711:Biotransformation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Bile synthesis; Biotransformation; Fatty acid; Glucose; Liver; Metabolism; Neonatal; Physiologic jaundice; Physiology