What are the risks of high bile acid levels in pregnant women?
Disease description:
Recently, during a prenatal checkup, I found that my bile acid levels were a bit high. May I ask, what are the risks associated with high bile acid levels in pregnant women?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
Elevated bile acid levels in pregnant women are clinically often diagnosed as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), a specific complication occurring during the second and third trimesters. Its main features include elevated serum bile acid levels and symptoms such as skin itching, particularly evident on the palms and soles. ICP has relatively minor effects on the mother but poses non-negligible risks to the fetus. The main risks include the following:
1. Elevated bile acid levels may cause pruritus in pregnant women, which can be generalized or localized to specific skin areas, varying in severity and significantly affecting the pregnant woman's quality of life.
2. High bile acid levels may lead to preterm birth and premature rupture of fetal membranes, increasing the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.
3. The incidence of neonatal jaundice also increases, with some infants potentially developing metabolic abnormalities such as hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia.
4. Elevated bile acid levels may be associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, which can impair the liver's coagulation function in pregnant women, increase blood loss during delivery, and in severe cases, endanger the lives of both mother and baby.
