Jaundice in the period after birth due to conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is called neonatal cholestasis.

Biliary atresia and other congenital liver diseases are distinguished from physiological prolonged neonatal jaundice as they are associated with conjugated (direct), rather than unconjugated, hyperbilirubinemia.

Causes of neonatal cholestasis as examples of many

Extrahepatic disorders:

- biliary atresia

Intrahepatic disorders

- “ Idiopathic “ neonatal hepatitis

- Intrahepatic cholestasis (persistent): example Alagille syndrome

Anatomic

Metabolic and endocrine disorders as

- tyrosinemia,

- Niemann-Pick disease,

- galactosemia,

- alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency

Infectious diseases

Chromosomal anomalies

It important to differentiate between biliary atresia and other causes of cholestasis, because biliary atresia needs timely surgical treatment