Patient's question:
A 32-week premature infant stayed in the neonatal department for 44 days. An ultrasound after discharge was normal. The total bile acid level at discharge was 89.9. One week after discharge, the total bile acid level was checked again and found to be 97. What's going on?Doctor's answer:
This could be caused by vitamin deficiency due to preterm birth or by intrauterine viral infection. On the basis of excluding genetic metabolic diseases, dynamic monitoring of bile acid and hearing screening should be conducted. This is related to the underdevelopment of liver function in premature infants. If the ultrasound examination is normal, recheck the bilirubin and bile acid levels. If still necessary, systemic liver-protective nutritional support drugs can be administered.