Abstract

This prospective clinical trial was conducted to assess serum bile acids (BA) levels in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) compared to both pregnant and non-pregnant controls; and evaluate perinatal outcome in relation to bile acid levels. A scoring is proposed based on biochemical markers to optimize management in ICP cases. Serum bile-acids(BA) were assessed in 71 intrahepatic-cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP) cases (group-I), versus 50 pregnant (group-II) and 35 non-pregnant (group-III) controls. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was administered in ICP group. Baseline bilirubin (SB), aminotransferases (AT), alkaline-phosphatase were sent in groups I & II. Investigations were repeated in group-I after 4weeks. Perinatal complications were noted. Mean BA in group-I was 75.92 ± 39.9µmol/L which reduced to 41.3 ± 15.4µmol/L(45.6%, p < 0.001) with UDCA. Mean BA was 29.2 ± 5.7 and 5.9 ± 1.8µmol/L in group-II and group-III. UDCA significantly reduced itching-score. Rate of fetal distress linearly increased with the increasing baseline levels of serum BA, AT and SB: from 2.5 to 100% at BA < 40 and ≥ 200µmol/L, (p = 0.008); from 16.1 to 100% at AT < 100 and ≥ 500IU/mL(p = 0.016); and from 6.8 to 100% at SB < 0.8 and > 5mg/dL (p = 0.001); respectively. Their baseline levels were divided into 5 groups in correlation to fetal distress. Serum BA < 40, 40-80, 80-120, 120-200, ≥ 200µmol/L; AT < 100,100-200,200-500, ≥ 500IU/mL; and SB < 0.8, 0.8-1.0, 1.1-2, 2.1-5 and > 5mg/dL. Nutan ICP scoring was proposed with a score 0 to 4 given to each parameter and score-based management protocol was suggested for fetal surveillance and delivery. SBA are higher in Asian Indian pregnant women. Levels > 30µmol/L can be taken as a cut off for diagnosing ICP in Asian-Indian women. Adopting higher cut-offs for this geographic part will avoid over-diagnosing ICP and iatrogenic early termination of pregnancy. Suggested scoring will help clinicians in optimizing the time of delivery on an individualized basis.

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