Assessment of selected parameters of placental microstructure in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver disorder during pregnancy. Cholestasisis associated with increased risk of fetal complications: prematurity, perinatal hypoxia and meconium stained amnioticfluid, and sudden intrauterine fetal death. The exact mechanisms associated with cholestasis fetal sequelae are not fullyunderstood. The aim of the study was the histopathological evaluation of placentas from patients with cholestasis andhealthy pregnant women to establish whether cholestasis is accompanied by changes in placental microstructure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effect of cholestasis on placental microstructure was investigated using placental tissue frompatients with cholestatsis treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and from uncomplicated pregnancies. Five placentalhistopathological features were analyzed: number of syncytial knots, number of capillaries per villous, structure of stroma,presence of Hofbauer cells, and villitis of unknown etiology. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in any of the studied parameters between cholestasis-affectedand healthy control groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are no diffrences in placental microstructure in cholestasis patients treated with UDCA and in patientswith uncomplicated pregnancy.