Cholestasis and Pregnancy

Obstetric cholestasis is an intrahepatic multifactorial disease, unique to pregnancy which presents with intense pruritis and abnormal liver function tests (LFTs). It commonly presents in the third trimester and becomes more severe with advanced gestation. The prevalence of obstetric cholestasis is...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: A. Daniilidis, T. Tantanasis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2008-01-01
Series:European Journal of Inflammation
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1721727X0800600102
_version_ 1818299429987287040
author A. Daniilidis
T. Tantanasis
author_facet A. Daniilidis
T. Tantanasis
author_sort A. Daniilidis
collection DOAJ
description Obstetric cholestasis is an intrahepatic multifactorial disease, unique to pregnancy which presents with intense pruritis and abnormal liver function tests (LFTs). It commonly presents in the third trimester and becomes more severe with advanced gestation. The prevalence of obstetric cholestasis is influenced by genetic and environmental aspects and varies in different populations. The pathogenesis appears to relate to a predisposition to the cholestatic effect of increased circulating oestrogens and progestogens. Also genetic mutations have been reported in a sub-group of women with elevated γ-GT. There can be significant maternal morbidity due to intense pruritis and consequent sleep deprivation. There may be malabsorption with steatorrhea resulting in vitamin K deficiency, prolongation of clotting times and increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Caesarian section rate is much higher for women with obstetric cholestasis. The potential fetal risks include preterm labour and prematurity and unexplained intrauterine death. The aim of the management of obstetric cholestasis is to avoid fetal complications and to relieve maternal symptoms. A variety of drug therapies have been used to reduce maternal pruritis. Policies of active management and induction of labor before 38 weeks may improve pregnancy outcome. Obstetric cholestasis is a diagnosis of exclusion, and other causes of pruritis should be excluded.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T04:51:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5ab4519c7e4546f49e3ee469e45ee851
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1721-727X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T04:51:05Z
publishDate 2008-01-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series European Journal of Inflammation
spelling doaj.art-5ab4519c7e4546f49e3ee469e45ee8512022-12-21T23:59:00ZengSAGE PublishingEuropean Journal of Inflammation1721-727X2008-01-01610.1177/1721727X0800600102Cholestasis and PregnancyA. DaniilidisT. TantanasisObstetric cholestasis is an intrahepatic multifactorial disease, unique to pregnancy which presents with intense pruritis and abnormal liver function tests (LFTs). It commonly presents in the third trimester and becomes more severe with advanced gestation. The prevalence of obstetric cholestasis is influenced by genetic and environmental aspects and varies in different populations. The pathogenesis appears to relate to a predisposition to the cholestatic effect of increased circulating oestrogens and progestogens. Also genetic mutations have been reported in a sub-group of women with elevated γ-GT. There can be significant maternal morbidity due to intense pruritis and consequent sleep deprivation. There may be malabsorption with steatorrhea resulting in vitamin K deficiency, prolongation of clotting times and increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Caesarian section rate is much higher for women with obstetric cholestasis. The potential fetal risks include preterm labour and prematurity and unexplained intrauterine death. The aim of the management of obstetric cholestasis is to avoid fetal complications and to relieve maternal symptoms. A variety of drug therapies have been used to reduce maternal pruritis. Policies of active management and induction of labor before 38 weeks may improve pregnancy outcome. Obstetric cholestasis is a diagnosis of exclusion, and other causes of pruritis should be excluded.https://doi.org/10.1177/1721727X0800600102
spellingShingle A. Daniilidis
T. Tantanasis
Cholestasis and Pregnancy
European Journal of Inflammation
title Cholestasis and Pregnancy
title_full Cholestasis and Pregnancy
title_fullStr Cholestasis and Pregnancy
title_full_unstemmed Cholestasis and Pregnancy
title_short Cholestasis and Pregnancy
title_sort cholestasis and pregnancy
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1721727X0800600102
work_keys_str_mv AT adaniilidis cholestasisandpregnancy
AT ttantanasis cholestasisandpregnancy