Biliary lipid compositions in cholestatic diseases of infancy.

Biliary lipid compositions in infants with cholestasis were analysed. Bile acid and phospholipid values were appreciably lower in infants with idiopathic neonatal hepatitis syndrome or corrected biliary atresia than in control infants. Cholesterol values were not, however, notably lower in infants with cholestasis. When biliary lipid components were determined in terms of molar percent, bile acid values were considerably lower in infants with cholestasis than in controls, and cholesterol and phospholipids were appreciably higher, as was the lithogenic index.