Diagnosi delle colestasi neonatali e infantili

Neonatal and infantile cholestasis (NIC) may represent the onset of a surgically correctable disease and of a genetic or metabolic disorder worthy of medical treatment. Timely recognition of NIC and identification of the underlying aetiology are paramount to improve outcomes. Upon invitation of the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), an expert working group was set up by the Italian Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SIGENP) to formulate evidence-based positions on current knowledge on the diagnosis of NIC by systematic literature search and to collect evidence on the epidemiologic, aetiological and clinical aspects and accuracy of available diagnostic tests in NIC. The results have recently been published as a position paper of the Society. The present article comments on the principal recommendations reported in that paper.