Predictors of Adverse Neonatal Outcomes in Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Overview

Many studies have attempted to find the predictors of adverse neonatal outcome in women with Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy(ICP).Serum total bile acid level exceeding 40 µmol/L has been associated with increased risk of meconium staining, low Apgar scores, preterm delivery, and stillbirth.Other predictors such as level of transaminases, history of cholelithiasis, and hepatitis virus infection have been studied but the results are inconclusive.A more comprehensive investigation involving multiple neonatal outcomes and a wide variety of outcome predictors is needed in order to establish guidelines for optimal timing of delivery in pregnancies complicated by ICP. The aim of our study was to evaluate wide variety of predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes in a large cohort of women with ICP .

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all women diagnosed with ICP. Pregnancy outcomes including delivery gestational age, spontaneous preterm delivery, iatrogenic preterm delivery, birth weight, mode of delivery, oligohydramnios, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), placental abruption, preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM), concerning fetal heart tracing, chorioamnionitis, endometritis, postpartum hemorrhage, transfusion, stillbirth, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, hyperbilirubinemia, meconium stained amniotic fluid, respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) or transient tachypnea of newborn(TTN) (transient tachypnea of the newborn), and composite neonatal outcome were ascertained. A composite adverse neonatal outcome was created and defined as any of the following: NICU admission, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, RDS, TTN, mechanical ventilation use, oxygen by nasal cannula, pneumonia, and stillbirth. PPROM was defined by rupture of membrane before 37 weeks gestation. Concerning fetal heart tracing was defined as recurrent variable or late decelerations with moderate variability, prolonged decelerations, or category 3 tracing. Providers who were caring for the women reviewed and independently characterized fetal heart tracings. Since fetal heart tracings were not accessible to authors, authors accepted the providers' interpretation. For analysis of concerning fetal heart tracing, women with non-labor cesarean section were excluded. Hyperbilirubinemia was defined by neonatal hyperbilirubinemia that required phototherapy. Hypoglycemia was defined by neonatal hypoglycemia that required intravenous infusion. Diagnosis of RDS and TTN were made by the managing neonatologist and based on standard clinical guidelines.