Gallbladder function and maternal bile acids in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Ultrasonic measurement of the gallbladder volume was taken in 8 nonpregnant, healthy women, in 7 women with normal pregnancies and in 7 women whose pregnancies were complicated by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, in the fasting state and 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after a test meal. At the same time the serum concentrations of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid were measured. The fasting and ejection volumes of the gallbladder in cholestasis of pregnancy were greater than in normal pregnancy. The fasting volume of the gallbladder was greater, but the ejection volume smaller in normal pregnancy than in nonpregnant women. No difference in the ultrasonic appearance of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts was found between the groups. Serum bile acids were increased in cholestasis of pregnancy and did not display any decreasing tendency after the postprandial rise during the following 3 h. The results indicate that in cholestasis of pregnancy the gallbladder function and the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids are different from normal pregnancy. This may be associated with the great tendency to gallstones in these women. The large size of the gallbladder in cholestasis of pregnancy has differential diagnostic importance in the ultrasonic evaluation of a pregnant woman with liver disease.