Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (also called ICP) is a liver disorder that typically occurs during the second half of pregnancy. Cholestasis is a condition that impairs the release of a digestive fluid called bile, which is made and released by the liver. In people with cholestasis, bile builds up in the liver, impairing its function. Because the problems with bile release occur within the liver (intrahepatic), the condition is described as intrahepatic cholestasis.

Severe itchiness (pruritus) is typically one of the first symptoms of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. The itchiness usually begins on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet before spreading to other parts of the body. Women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy have a buildup of bile acids in the blood. Bile acids are a component of bile and are produced when the liver processes cholesterol. Bile acid levels in the blood are normally low, but they can increase in people with liver disease. 

Occasionally, women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy have yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice). Women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy typically do not continue to have signs and symptoms of the condition after having the baby, though they may have an increased risk of developing disorders of the gallbladder, liver, or heart later in life. 

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy can cause problems for the baby. This condition is associated with an increased risk of premature delivery and breathing problems in the newborn (meconium aspiration). Some infants born to women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy experience a slow heart rate and a lack of oxygen during delivery (fetal distress). Women with higher levels of bile acids in their blood also have an increased risk of stillbirth.