INTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS OF PREGNANCY

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a well-defined liver disease that is unique to pregnancy. Signs of cholestasis, particularly pruritus, usually occur during the second or third trimester and, by definition, disappear spontaneously after delivery. ICP is a benign disease for the mother, but it carries a risk for the pregnancy because of the possibility of premature delivery and sudden fetal death. This risk for the baby requires the obstetric team and the hepatologists to be familiar with ICP, especially since active, timely obstetric intervention improves fetal prognosis.