Cholestatic Jaundice Associated with Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase IA Deficiency.

Liver dysfunction usually accompanies metabolic decompensation in fatty acid oxidation disorders, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) Ia deficiency. Typically, the liver is enlarged with raised plasma transaminase activities and steatosis on histological examination. In contrast, cholestatic jaundice is rare, having only been reported in long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency. We report a 3-year-old boy with CPT Ia deficiency who developed hepatomegaly and cholestatic jaundice following a viral illness. No cause for the jaundice could be found, apart from the fatty acid oxidation disorder. Liver histology showed diffuse, predominately macrovesicular steatosis, hepatocellular and canalicular cholestasis but no bile duct paucity or evidence of large duct obstruction. The liver dysfunction resolved in 4-7 weeks.