Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy may lead to low birth weight

To evaluate patients hospitalized in our clinic in the last 5 years with the diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

One hundred and fifty patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of ICP between January 2008 and May 2013 were evaluated retrospectively and age, week at diagnosis, gestational age at delivery, period between diagnosis and delivery, fetal weight, transaminases, and coagulation parameters were recorded. Patients were divided into groups according to their diagnosis weeks and gravida. Accordingly, patients diagnosed before 32 weeks formed group A (n = 49) and those after 32 weeks formed group B (n = 101). Data were evaluated with SPSS 16.0.

There was a significant difference between group A and group B in terms of delivery period and fetal weights (P = 0.001, P 0.035). Accordingly, the period between diagnosis and delivery and fetal weight were found to be longer and lower, respectively, in the early-onset group. In terms of distribution of ICP according to time of diagnosis, patients were diagnosed mostly in the spring season (60 cases, 40%) and in the month of March (27 cases, 18%).

According to our study, the birth weight of fetuses of patients with ICP diagnosed before 32 weeks are lower, although they have the same gestational age at delivery as the fetuses of the patients with ICP diagnosed after 32 weeks.