title: [Ursodeoxycholic acid: prospect for treatment of gravidic cholestasis? Report of 3 cases].
abstract: Ursodeoxycholic acid, employed in treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis as seen in primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and chronic hepatitis; does not have marketing approval for prescription during pregnancy because of lack of data. In 3 cases of gravidic cholestasis, we administered oral ursodeoxycholic acid 1 g a day from the 34th week of amenorrhea to delivery. In each case, it took 3 days of treatment for the pruritus to regress incompletely and for plasma levels of biliary acid and transaminases to decrease. The infants, born between the 36th and 38th week of amenorrhea, presented with no problem. Forty-eight cases of gravidic cholestasis treated by ursodeoxocholic acid (0.4 to 1 g a day) have been reported in the literature; 18 cases belonging to 2 randomized studies. In 46 cases pruritus disappeared generally 3 days after treatment onset, and plasma level of biliary acid and transaminase decreased in one week. Only two patients experienced persisting pruritus despite biological improvement. No foetal adverse effect is reported. Ursodeoxycholic acid seems to be an efficient treatment of gravidic cholestasis. Long term observation of fetuses exposed in utero to this treatment is required to assess safety.
authors.affiliation: Service de Gynécologie et Obstétrique, Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calmelet
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coumaros
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Viville
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raiga
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Favreau
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Treisser
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid
vernacular_title: L'acide ursodésoxycholique: perspective de traitement de la cholestase gravidique? A propos de 3 observations.