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Published on: March 13, 2014
Alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
J Wojcicka1, J Sienko, R Smolarczyk
12nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Karowa 2, 00-315 Warsaw, Poland. jaceks@szpitalkarowa.pl
Insights
Serum alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) activity is elevated in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). This finding offers a new biochemical marker for assessing ICP severity during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Obstetrics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) poses risks to perinatal health.
- Alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) is a cytoplasmic enzyme found in serum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) activity in pregnant women with ICP.
Main Methods:
- 100 women in their third trimester were studied: 58 with ICP and 42 healthy controls.
- A group of 26 nonpregnant women was included for comparison.
- Assessed serum levels of alpha-HBDH, bilirubin fractions, bile acids, alkaline phosphatase, liver enzymes, lipids, and total protein.
Main Results:
- Serum alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) activity was significantly increased in the third trimester of ICP pregnancies.
- Elevated alpha-HBDH activity showed a positive correlation with total and direct bilirubin levels and total alkaline phosphatase activity.
Conclusions:
- Serum alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) activity is a valuable biochemical marker for evaluating the severity of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).
Objectives:
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with increased perinatal mortality and morbidity. Alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) is an enzyme that originates in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and can be detected in the serum. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of alpha-HBDH activity in ICP.
Methods:
The study included 100 women in their third trimester of pregnancy, 58 of whom had ICP (the study group) and 42 were healthy (the control group); another group, 26 nonpregnant women, was also analyzed to follow changes in alpha-HBDH activity during pregnancy. The concentrations or activity of fractionated bilirubin; bile acids; total alkaline phosphatase; alanine and aspartate aminotransferases; total high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; triglycerides; total protein; and alpha-HBDH were assessed.
Results:
The activity of serum alpha-HBDH is increased during the third trimester of pregnancies complicated by ICP, and it correlates positively with total and direct bilirubin concentration and total alkaline phosphatase activity.
Conclusions:
Alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase serum activity seems to be another biochemical parameter useful in the assessment of ICP severity.
