Can obstetric cholestasis cause liver damage?

It is also known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) or obstetric cholestasis. ICP temporarily impairs (lowers) liver function in some pregnant women. This liver impairment causes bile (a substance made by the liver that helps digestion) to build up in the liver and bloodstream.

Is cholestasis considered high risk pregnancy?

Yes. The only known way to reduce risk of stillbirth is with early delivery. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with an increased risk of stillbirth, and the only known way to reduce this risk is early delivery.

Can your liver get damaged during pregnancy?

Liver disease in pregnancy encompasses a spectrum of diseases encountered during gestation and the postpartum period that result in abnormal liver function tests, hepatobiliary dysfunction, or both. It occurs in 3% to 10% of all pregnancies. Several disorders contribute to liver disease in pregnancy (Box 1).

Can liver enzymes be normal with cholestasis?

Cholestasis (lack of bile flow) results from the blockage of bile ducts or from a disease that impairs bile formation in the liver itself. AP and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels typically rise to several times the normal level after several days of bile duct obstruction or intrahepatic cholestasis.

Can you have cholestasis with normal liver function tests?

Liver Function Tests (or Complete Metabolic Panel) Approximately 60% of people with Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy will have elevated liver functions during their pregnancies. A normal liver function panel does not rule out the disorder as bile acid testing still needs to be performed.

Is delivery by 36 weeks necessary for cholestasis of pregnancy?

While studies have found that higher bile acid levels appear to bring higher risk of certain complications such as respiratory distress and fetal distress, studies have not been able to identify the same relationship for stillbirth. Therefore, all ICP pregnancies are recommended to be delivered early.

Is delivery by 34 weeks necessary for cholestasis of pregnancy?

You may be advised to have your labour induced from around 35-36 weeks of pregnancy if your bile acid levels are over 100. This is to reduce the risk of stillbirth. If your doctors think that you should be induced before 35-36 weeks, there is a chance that you may need a caesarean section.

When will I be induced with cholestasis?

What should AST levels be in pregnancy?

Is it safe to have another baby after having cholestasis?

Is there anything else I should know? There is a high chance that obstetric cholestasis may happen again in a future pregnancy: 45–90 in 100 women (45–90%) who have had obstetric cholestasis will develop it again in future pregnancies. contraceptive pill and you may wish to discuss alternative forms of contraception.