[Relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor with bile acid in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with bile acid in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients (ICP). METHODS: Thirty three ICP patients and 30 normal pregnant women in late pregnancy were studied, maternal serum VEGF concentrations were examined by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Capillaries density in placenta are detected by s-ABC immunohistochemistry, radio-immunity method is used to assay the maternal serum glycocholic acid. RESULTS: Serum VEGF in ICP (2 072 +/- 17) ng/L has negative correlation with glycocholic acid (47.9 +/- 14.2) ng/L, however, positive correlation with capillaries density in placenta (68 +/- 5)/HP; The serum VEGF in normal pregnant woman (2 256 +/- 30) ng/L does not have relationship to glycocholic acid (1.6 +/- 0.7) ng/L but it has positive correlation with capillaries density in placenta (74 +/- 7)/HP. CONCLUSION: Cytotoxicity of high concentration bile acids impairs vascular endothelial cells resulting in lower excretion of VEGF in vascular endothelial cells of ICP, which lead to placental blood capillaries dysplasia and lower permeability, it may be one of reasons of fetal distress and fetal death in uteri in ICP.