Abstract
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a rare but potentially serious complication
of pregnancy, the main symptom of which is intense pruritus with elevated serum levels
of bile acids. The elevated serum bile acid concentration is regarded as a predictor
for poor perinatal outcome including intrauterine death. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)
has become established as the treatment of choice in clinical management to achieve
a significant improvement in symptoms and reduce the cholestasis. Pregnant women with
severe intrahepatic cholestasis should always be managed in a perinatal centre with
close interdisciplinary monitoring and treatment involving perinatologists and hepatologists
to minimise the markedly increased perinatal morbidity and mortality as well as maternal
symptoms.
Key words
cholestasis of pregnancy - pruritus - bile acids - antenatal care - induction of labor
- fetal death