Focus on primary care: pruritic dermatological conditions in pregnancy

This article reviews the literature that evaluates pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, herpes gestationis, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and their impact on the fetus. Using MEDLINE years 1966 to 1999, a literature search was performed using the terms pregnancy, dermatology, pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, herpes gestationis, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. References from the selected papers were then reviewed for additional sources. Thirty-seven studies were reviewed. Both original studies and review articles were included in the sources. The results of each study as originally reported are included to provide the reader the finding of each. The available literature reports no risk with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy; however, the current opinion of most was that there is an increased risk with herpes gestationis and intrahepatic papules and plaques of pregnancy. Although much information is known concerning these unique conditions, a consensus regarding their effect on the fetus has yet to be reached. Pregnancies affected by herpes gestationis and cholestasis of pregnancy should be considered high risk until more definitive evidence can be gained.