Cholestasis of Pregnancy : A Prospective Study

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) typically occurs during the last trimester of gestation. The most accurate marker for diagnosis and follow-up of ICP is increased total bile acid levels (above 11.0 micro mol/L) [1]. ICP is a benign disease with no consequences to the mother but it is associated with an increased rate of fetal morbidity and mortality.

A prospective study was carried out in 1500 deliveries which included 27 cases of ICP. The mode of delivery, complications and fetal outcome of intrahepatic cholestasis group were compared with rest of the deliveries. Cases having pruritic lesions of skin, viral hepatitis, gall stones, autoimmune liver diseases were excluded. Random selection of 300 pregnancies in the control group was done and their liver function tests were carried out for comparison. All the patients with cholestasis of pregnancy were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid.

The levels of the aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase levels rose significantly (p < 0.05) in the study group. Cholestatic group did not have any significant difference in mode of delivery or fetal outcome from the control group. The patients in the study group were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid with significant relief in symptoms (p < 0.01), while improvement in serum bilirubin levels, alkaline phosphatase levels and aminotransferases levels were not statistically significant.

In absence of serum bile acids levels, alkaline phosphatase and aminotransferases levels may help in diagnosis and management of cholestasis of pregnancy. Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment is effective in reducing the pruritus.