title: The differential diagnosis between intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice and viral hepatitis during pregnancy.
abstract: Clinical and laboratory findings from 15 patients with icteric viral hepatitis during pregnancy (VHP) and from 22 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy (CJP) were evaluated statistically in order to find out which parameters might help in order to find out which parameters might help in differentiating the two diseases. Diagnosis was established by needle liver biopsy in all cases. The following data were considered: history, physical examination, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) serum cholesterol, prothrombin time, total serum bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum protein, serum flocculation tests, BSP blood clearance and serum HB Ag. Vomiting, high GOT and GPT serum levels, and serum HB Ag positivity suggest VHP diagnosis. Otherwise a severe itching with scratching lesions, high ESR, elevated total cholesterol and serum alkaline phosphatase values mainly if occurring in the later stage of pregnancy are consistent with CJP diagnosis. When clinical and laboratory data from a jaundiced pregnant female do not allow diagnosis, this can be established only on the basis of needle liver biopsy.
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis; D011537:Pruritus; D014839:Vomiting
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase