[The changes of serum estrogen, progesterone and the function of immune system in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of estrogen, progesterone and the function of immune system on intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).


METHODS
Fifty women with ICP and fifty normal pregnant women were enrolled in the study. The levels of their serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured and cellular immunity and humoral immunity were determined. Radioimmunoassay was used to detect the levels of E2 and P, and APAAP was used to detect cellular immunity.


RESULTS
(1) The level of estrodiol was significantly increased in ICP group than those of normal control group (25.89 +/- 6.85 micrograms/L, 16.92 +/- 4.98 micrograms/L, P < 0.01). (2) The level of CD8+ was decreased (19.06 +/- 1.93%, 26.43 +/- 2.89%) and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was increased significantly in ICP group than those of control group (2.23 +/- 0.38, 1.73 +/- 0.23, P < 0.05). (3) There were negative correlation between E2 and CD8+, and positive correlation between E2 and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the high level of E2 of ICP patients may result in functional disorder of immune system by the means of estrogen receptor on CD8+. This may be a factor of ICP development.
Shi
Q
Q
Second University Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu.
Liu
S
S
Xiong
Q
Q
D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*
D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone