Pregnancy outcome in women with pruritus gravidarum.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate obstetric risk factors and pregnancy outcome in women with pruritus gravidarum who delivered during a 15-year period.


METHODS
A population-based study comparing all pregnancies in women with and without pruritus gravidarum delivered between 1988 and 2002 was conducted. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed in order to find independent risk factors associated with pruritus gravidarum.


RESULTS
During the study period there were 159,197 deliveries, of which 376 (0.2%) occurred in patients with pruritus gravidarum. Using a multivariable analysis, the following conditions were found to be significantly associated with pruritus gravidarum: twin pregnancies, fertility treatments, diabetes mellitus and nulliparity. No significant differences were noted between the groups regarding perinatal outcomes, such as birth weight, low Apgar scores or perinatal mortality. Pruritus gravidarum was associated with higher rates of labor induction, and accordingly those fetuses were more likely to be delivered by cesarean delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
Pruritus gravidarum, associated with multiple gestations, fertility treatments, diabetes mellitus and nulliparity, is not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. However, there are higher rates of labor induction and cesarean delivery.
Sheiner
Eyal
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel. sheiner@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
Ohel
Iris
I
Levy
Amalia
A
Katz
Miriam
M
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000453:epidemiology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014427:Twins