Pregnancy outcomes of women with pruritus, normal bile salts and liver enzymes: a case control study.
BACKGROUND
Obstetric cholestasis (OC) is associated with increased maternal and perinatal complications. Nevertheless, data on pregnancy outcomes of women who experience pruritus on a transient basis, but have normal bile salts and liver function tests (LFT) is scarce.


METHODS
The maternal and fetal outcomes of 144 women with pruritus but normal bile salts and LFTs were compared with the next delivered patient without itch who matched for age, ethnicity and parity.


RESULTS
The study and control groups had similar mean gestational ages at delivery and birth weights (p>0.05, t test). However, women with pruritus were more likely to have meconium-stained liqor, abnormal intrapartum cardiotocography and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) (p<0.05, Fisher's exact test). There appears to be a trend towards a higher rate of instrumental delivery (p=0.07) in the study compared to the control group, although this did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that women who have transient pruritus with normal bile salts and liver biochemistry appear to have higher intrapartum and postpartum complications and require increased vigilance. In order to evaluate this finding, further prospective studies will be required.
Yoong
Wai
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK. wai.yoong@nmh.nhs.uk
Memtsa
M
M
Pun
S
S
West
P
P
Loo
C
C
Okolo
S
S
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D015148:Cardiotocography; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011537:Pruritus
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts