Objectives: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is significantly more often associated with an abnormal perinatal outcome compared to a group of healthy pregnant women. The aim of the study was to analyse the correlation between the adverse perinatal outcome and the biochemical parameters in pregnancy complicated by cholestasis, and to assess their predictive value for neonatal complications.
Material and methods: Eighty-six patients with ICP were divided into 3 groups according to their fasting serum bile acid level [group I n = 60, 10-39.90 μmol/L; group II n = 20, 40-99.90 μmol /L; group III n = 6, TBA (total bile acids) ≥ 100.00 μmol/L]. Linear regression models were created to determine the relation of serum TBA, ALT, and AST concentration with total adverse perinatal outcome, defined as an occurrence of at least one perinatal outcome: stillbirth, preterm birth, spontaneous and iatrogenic preterm birth, presence of meconium in amniotic fluid, Apgar score (< 7 in 5th min), pH from umbilical artery (< 7.1), necessity for NICU admission, the presence of breathing disorders, and the need to perform phototherapy.
Results: TBA ≥ 40.00 μmol/L is connected to an elevated risk of the occurrence of total adverse perinatal outcome (OR = 4.17, p = 0.0037, AUC = 0.62, p = 0.046). TBA ≥ 40.00 μmol/L is a predictor of preterm birth (OR 2.3, p = 0.0117), iatrogenic preterm birth (OR 2.5, p = 0.006), admission to NICU (OR 2.38, p = 0.0094), intubation or assisted ventilation (OR 2.16, p = 0.0301), and phototherapy (OR 2.0, p = 0.0438). The threshold value of TBA for the need for phototherapy was 52.7 μmol/L (AUC = 0.67, p = 0.0089) and for preterm birth, 32.1 μmol/L (AUC = 0.62, p = 0.0251).
Conclusions: Pregnant women with ICP and TBA serum level over 40.00 μmol/L have a worse prognosis regarding obstetric outcomes. The concentration of bile acids is a predictor of the occurrence of adverse perinatal outcomes, although the concentration of ALT and AST failed to show such a connection.
Keywords: adverse obstetric outcomes; bile acids; cholestasis.