Nursing Care of an Extremely Preterm Infant with Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide Deficiency: A Case Report

Abstract

Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is a protein encoded by the solute carrier family 10 member 1 gene and expressed in the basolateral membrane of the hepatocyte to uptake conjugated bile acids from the plasma. This study reported an extremely premature infant (EPI) with NTCP deficiency (NTCPD). The patient presented with jaundice, persistently elevated total bile acids, 25-(OH)-VitD deficiency, and cleft palate. Nursing care mainly focused on disease surveillance, jaundice care, nutrition, kangaroo mother care, and psychological care. In response to 5 months of the nursing care, the infant’s weight reached 3.324 kg, the jaundice was alleviated, and the infant gained the ability to suck milk. However, his TBA levels were abnormally elevated, and 25-(OH)-VitD was still deficient when the patient was discharged from hospital. The nurses taught the patient’s parents the importance of monitoring liver function and trace elements during a routine outpatient visit. Telephone follow-up 1 year later showed that the patient was in good health with no obvious clinical manifestations. This article reports our experiences in caring for an EPI with NTCPD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report worldwide in NTCPD nursing care.