Progress in research on impacts of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy on mother and fetus

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP) is a pregnancy-induced disorder which is characterized by some main symptoms such as pruritus, jaundice, complicated by biochemical abnormalities in cholic acid and hepatic enzymes specifically occurred in the second and the third trimesters of pregnancy. The cause of disease is unclear. Beside the basis of genetic susceptibility, most researchers considered that this disease is associated with elevated estrogen level, which can cause increased maternal bile acid, disturbance of bile acid transport in the placenta, retention of bile acid in maternal and fetal bodies, leading to harms to the mother and the fetus. The prognosis of the disease is good for pregnant women, however, it can induce premature labor, fetal intrauterine distress, intrauterine fetal death and so on, so it increases the perinatal morbidity and mortality.