title: Lithocholic acid as a biomarker of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy during ursodeoxycholic acid treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnosis and treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) has important implications on fetal health. The biochemical parameter commonly used in the diagnosis of ICP is the determination of the concentration of total serum bile acids (TSBA). However, bile acid profile, especially lithocholic acid (LCA) analysis is a more sensitive and specific biomarker for differential diagnosis of this pathology and also could be an alternative to evaluate the efficiency of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for ICP treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum bile acid (SBA) profiles including LCA determination, were studied in 28 ICP patients using a capillary electrophoresis method. The effects of UDCA treatment on bile acid profile, were analysed in 23 out of 28 ICP patients and the two samples obtained before and 15 days after treatment were compared. Two samples taken as controls were also obtained from each of five patients without therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A dramatic decrease in LCA concentrations and maintenance of TSBA concentrations were found in all patients after UDCA therapy, whereas SBA profiles together with LCA values did not change in patients without therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose LCA as an alternative biomarker and a more sensitive parameter than TSBA to evaluate the effectiveness of UDCA treatment, at least in ICP patients from Argentina.
authors.affiliation: Cathedra of Analytical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Silvia E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lucangioli
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castaño
authors.forename: Mario D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Contin
authors.forename: Valeria P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Tripodi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008095:Lithocholic Acid; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D008095:Lithocholic Acid; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid