Obstetric cholestasis: outcome with active management

Obstetric Cholestasis: Investigation of a suspected high incidence in the West of Ireland

AIM

To identify the incidence of Obstetric Cholestasis in a Maternity unit. To compare our investigation, criteria for diagnosis and management plan with National Guidelines. To assess adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with this condition.

METHOD

Serum Bile Acid requests are sent to an external laboratory, Biomnis in Dublin, for processing. A log of 2018 requests was obtained from Biochemistry. The pregnant patients with values > 8 mmol/L were selected. A data collection proforma was designed and retrospective chart review performed.

RESULTS

Of the 1302 births in SUH in 2018, 42 women met the criteria resulting in a suspected incidence of 3.2% (n = 42). 9.5%(n = 4) of patients had a history of OC in a previous pregnancy. Bile acid values ranged from 8.1 to 124 mmol/L. LFTs were deranged in 81% (n = 34) of patients. Gestation at delivery ranged from 35 weeks to 40 + 9. OC alone was the indication for induction in 57%9n = 24). CS in 43% (n = 20) and Vaginal birth in 57% (n = 25). Neonatal outcome: 7% (n = 3) reduced APGAR, 7% (n = 3) passed meconium, 9% (n = 4) NICU admission, no stillbirths.

CONCLUSION

Suspected incidence of 3.2% (n = 42) is significantly higher than the stated 0.7% across multi-ethnic populations. Greater congruence is required on the BA cut off value for diagnosis as there is no specified value in guidelines. While we may be over diagnosing patients based on BA level, we are also undertreating them, with 55% (n = 23) receiving Ursofalc. There was no neonatal mortality.

State of the Art in Hepatic Dysfunction in Pregnancy

Hepatic dysfunction in pregnant women is always challenging for the obstetrician, as the spectrum of hepatic abnormalities can be very large and have various implications, both for mother and fetus. There is a diagnostic and therapeutic polymorphism of hepatic dysfunction in pregnancy and insufficient knowledge related to the etiopathogenesis and epidemiology of this disease. The clinical forms of hepatic dysfunction encountered in pregnancy can vary from liver diseases related to pregnancy (e.g., HELLP syndrome, intrahepatic cholestasis, hyperemesis gravidarum, or acute fatty liver of pregnancy) to de novo ones occurring in pregnancy, and pre-existing liver disease (cholelithiasis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, and cirrhosis). We performed a systematic literature search over 10 years. The review protocol assumed a search of two databases (PubMed®/MEDLINE and Web of Science Core Collection). The strategy regarding the management of these diseases involves multidisciplinary teams composed of different specialists (obstetricians, gastroenterologists and anesthetists) from specialized tertiary centers. Despite the improving prognosis of pregnant women with liver diseases, the risk of maternal-fetal complications remains very high. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure careful monitoring by a multidisciplinary team and to inform the patients of the potential risks.

Role of ursodeoxycholic acid on maternal serum bile acids and perinatal outcomes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

AIM

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with safe maternal outcomes but perinatal outcomes have been variable. We assessed clinical factors and impact of bile acid levels on maternal and neonatal outcomes in ICP.

METHODS

Patients with ICP (defined as pruritus with serum bile acids ≥ 10 mmol/l) were included prospectively with an assessment of risk factors, modes of delivery as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes. Mild and severe ICP were diagnosed when serum bile acid was always <40 mmol/l and ≥40 mmol/l, respectively. Patients with gestational pruritus served as controls.

RESULTS

Out of 643 patients, 375 patients (mean age 29 ± 7.6 years, 45.8% primigravida) met inclusion criteria. Pregnancy-induced hypertension [PIH: 10.5%; odds ratio (OR): 4.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4-8.5; P = 0.0014], gestational diabetes (GDM: 12.5%; OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 2.3-4.1; P = 0.045) and spontaneous preterm labor (15.1%; OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.2-3.5; P = 0.040) were higher in patients with ICP. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) (median dose 900 mg; 600-1800 mg) ameliorated symptoms of cholestasis, bile acid levels and liver aminotransferases in 79% cases. When compared with patients with mild ICP, patients with severe ICP presented at a lower gestational period (26 vs. 32 weeks, P = 0.036), required frequent induction (12.5%; OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.1-5.6; P = 0.045) and had increased fetal distress (15%; OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-4.9; P = 0.048).Overall eight stillbirths were recorded.

CONCLUSION

Severe ICP is associated with a higher incidence of GDM and PIH, risk of pre-term labor, elective induction and stillbirths. UDCA remains a first-line agent in treating ICP.

Pharmacological interventions for treating intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a liver disorder that can develop in pregnancy. It occurs when there is a build-up of bile acids in the maternal blood. It has been linked to adverse maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes. As the pathophysiology is poorly understood, therapies have been largely empiric. As ICP is an uncommon condition (incidence less than 2% a year), many trials have been small. Synthesis, including recent larger trials, will provide more evidence to guide clinical practice. This review is an update of a review first published in 2001 and last updated in 2013.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of pharmacological interventions to treat women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, on maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes.

SEARCH METHODS

For this update, we searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register, ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (13 December 2019), and reference lists of retrieved studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials, including cluster-randomised trials and trials published in abstract form only, that compared any drug with placebo or no treatment, or two drug intervention strategies, for women with a clinical diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The review authors independently assessed trials for eligibility and risks of bias. We independently extracted data and checked these for accuracy. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 26 trials involving 2007 women. They were mostly at unclear to high risk of bias. They assessed nine different pharmacological interventions, resulting in 14 different comparisons. We judged two placebo-controlled trials of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in 715 women to be at low risk of bias. The ten different pharmacological interventions were: agents believed to detoxify bile acids (UCDA) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe); agents used to bind bile acids in the intestine (activated charcoal, guar gum, cholestyramine); Chinese herbal medicines (yinchenghao decoction (YCHD), salvia, Yiganling and Danxioling pill (DXLP)), and agents aimed to reduce bile acid production (dexamethasone) Compared with placebo, UDCA probably results in a small improvement in pruritus score measured on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) (mean difference (MD) -7.64 points, 95% confidence interval (CI) -9.69 to -5.60 points; 2 trials, 715 women; GRADE moderate certainty), where a score of zero indicates no itch and a score of 100 indicates severe itching. The evidence for fetal distress and stillbirth were uncertain, due to serious limitations in study design and imprecision (risk ratio (RR) 0.70, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.40; 6 trials, 944 women; RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.37; 6 trials, 955 women; GRADE very low certainty). We found very few differences for the other comparisons included in this review. There is insufficient evidence to indicate if SAMe, guar gum, activated charcoal, dexamethasone, cholestyramine, Salvia, Yinchenghao decoction, Danxioling and Yiganling, or Yiganling alone or in combination are effective in treating women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

When compared with placebo, UDCA administered to women with ICP probably shows a reduction in pruritus. However the size of the effect is small and for most pregnant women and clinicians, the reduction may fall below the minimum clinically worthwhile effect. The evidence was unclear for other adverse fetal outcomes, due to very low-certainty evidence. There is insufficient evidence to indicate that SAMe, guar gum, activated charcoal, dexamethasone, cholestyramine, YCHD, DXLP, Salvia, Yiganling alone or in combination are effective in treating women with cholestasis of pregnancy. There are no trials of the efficacy of topical emollients. Further high-quality trials of other interventions are needed in order to identify effective treatments for maternal itching and preventing adverse perinatal outcomes. It would also be helpful to identify those women who are mostly likely to respond to UDCA (for example, whether bile acid concentrations affect how women with ICP respond to treatment with UDCA).

Liver Enzyme Elevation in Pregnant Women Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in the ANRS-French Perinatal Cohort

BACKGROUND

High rates of liver enzyme elevation (LEE) in women receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) during pregnancy have been reported, but causes remain unclear. We estimated the prevalence and risk factors of LEE in a national prospective multicenter cohort.

METHODS

We studied 5748 pregnant women living with HIV enrolled in the French Perinatal Cohort 2005-2014, treated with ART, with no active hepatitis B or C coinfection. Adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) was estimated using Cox models with ART as time-dependent variable, separately for women on ART at conception and those initiating ART during pregnancy.

RESULTS

LEE (grade ≥ 1) was observed in 16.7%, grade 3-4 in 2%. Among women with LEE, 6.7% had pre-eclampsia, 9.8% intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and 1.4% other identified medical causes. Most LEEs (82.2%) were unexplained. In women with unexplained LEE, LEE was the reason for hospitalization in 51 (6%) women, cesarean section in 13 (2%), induction of labor in 3 (0.4%), and change in ART regimen in 49 (6%) women. Unexplained LEE was associated with higher risk of preterm births, P < 0.001. Among women on ART at conception, the risk of unexplained LEE was lower with NNRTI-based regimens than with PI-based regimens: aHR = 0.5 (0.3-0.7), with no difference among the PI drugs. Most women initiating ART during pregnancy were on a PI-based regimen (89%). Among them, LEE was less frequent for women on nelfinavir vs. lopinavir/r [aHR = 0.4 (0.2-0.8)].

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of LEE among pregnant women living with HIV are high and impact obstetrical care management. The possible role of PIs needs further investigation.

Stillbirth and associated perinatal outcomes in obstetric cholestasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

Obstetric cholestasis is a condition occurring in pregnancy with suspected adverse perinatal outcomes. Stillbirth is a significant adverse event associated with obstetric cholestasis and considered for intervention in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES

There are multiple studies with epidemiological data with regards to the outcomes of obstetric cholestasis. Our hypothesis is to the test the association of stillbirth and related outcomes in obstetric cholestasis.

SEARCH STRATEGY & SELECTION CRITERIA

Two independent reviewers did independent searches and selection with a standardized design as outlined in the PRISMA statement.

ANALYSIS

The retrieved relevant literature was subjected to a rigorous quality assessment and followed by standardized interpretable results.

RESULTS

The pooled estimate in this study showed that there was no significant difference in the stillbirth rates in the obstetric (OC) population when compared to the non-obstetric cholestasis (reference) population. However, there was an increased risk of preterm birth in the OC population compared to the reference population; however, the cesarean section and induction of labor results were directly related.

DISCUSSION

This study provides an epidemiological data related to the perinatal outcomes associated with obstetric cholestasis, specifically stillbirth. This result is likely to produce a benchmark for current evidence-based practice and to assist future research in understanding the implication of associated stillbirth risk and related outcomes with OC.

Population Scale Retrospective Analysis Reveals Potential Risk of Cholestasis in Pregnant Women Taking Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, and Amoxicillin

In nearly 50% of patients with drug-induced liver injury, the bile flow is impaired known as cholestasis. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver disease that happens in pregnancy. Some of the clinical symptoms include pruritus, dark urine, and abnormal liver function tests. A rise of serum bile acids is the most accurate diagnostic evidence. ICP may lead to premature birth, fetal distress, and even postpartum hemorrhage or stillbirth in some severe cases. Higher bile acid levels (> 40 μmol/L) are associated with higher rates of adverse fetal outcomes. Due to the multifactorial nature of ICP, its etiology is still not fully understood. Therefore, the current treatments of ICP are limited to control symptoms and protect fetuses. Among various causing factors, drug exposure during pregnancy is one common factor, and it can be prevented if we know drugs with increasing risk of cholestasis. Here we analyzed over 9.5 million FDA adverse effect reports to identify drugs with increasing risks of cholestasis as an adverse effect. Patients treated for cholestasis or liver diseases were removed. The odds ratio analysis reveals that lansoprazole (LSPZ), omeprazole (OMPZ) and amoxicillin (AMXC) are associated with an increased risk of cholestasis. LSPZ is associated with increased reported cholestasis by a factor of 2.32 (OR with 95% confidence interval [2.21, 2.43]). OMPZ is associated with increased reported cholestasis by a factor of 2.61 [2.54, 2.69]. AMXC is associated with increased reported cholestasis adverse effect by a factor of 6.79 [6.49, 7.11]. The risk of cholestasis associated with these three drugs is further increased in pregnant women. These findings justify careful reassessment of the safety of the three identified drugs.

Is It Necessary to Perform the Pharmacological Interventions for Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy? A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Although many meta-analyses have evaluated the pharmacotherapy of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and recommended ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as an effective treatment, the defect of the pair-wise analyses and the mixture of the control group made the outcome uncertain and unclear. We aimed to employ Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the maternal and fetal outcomes after UDCA, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) mono-therapy or the combination treatment of these two drugs for ICP patients.

METHODS

Multiple electronic database searches were conducted for articles published up to 1 September 2018. The relevant information was extracted from the published reports with a predefined data extraction sheet, and the risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Poisson Bayesian network meta-analysis was employed to identify the synthesized evidence from the relevant trials, with reporting hazard risks (HRs) and 95% credible intervals (CrIs).

RESULTS

The pooled outcomes of the 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 625 participants indicated that none of the three regimens can significantly improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

CONCLUSION

This NMA of the RCTs clarified that the current intervention has no favorable effect on pruritus and other symptoms in ICP patients.

Perinatal outcomes associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2017;31:1913-1920. [PMID: 28581354 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1332036]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to examine perinatal outcomes associated with cholestasis of pregnancy according to bile acid level and antenatal testing practice.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of women with symptoms and bile acid testing from 2005 to 2014. Women were stratified by bile acid level: no cholestasis (<10 μmol/L), mild (10-39 μmol/L), moderate (40-99 μmol/L), and severe (≥100 μmol/L). The primary outcome was composite neonatal morbidity (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, or death).

RESULTS

785 women were included; 487 had cholestasis (347 mild, 108 moderate, 32 severe) and 298 did not. After controlling for gestational age (GA), severe cholestasis was associated with the composite neonatal outcome (aRR 5.6, 95% CI 1.3-23.5) and meconium-stained fluid (aRR 4.82, 95%CI 1.6-14.2). Bile acid levels were not correlated with the frequency of testing (p = .50). Women who underwent twice weekly testing were delivered earlier (p = .016) than women tested less frequently, but the difference in GA was ≤4 d. Abnormal testing prompting delivery was uncommon. Among women with cholestasis, there were three stillbirths. One of these women was undergoing antenatal testing, which was normal 1 d prior to the fetal demise.

CONCLUSION

Severe cholestasis is associated with neonatal morbidity which antenatal testing may not predict.

Alanine aminotransferase as a predictor of adverse perinatal outcomes in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Objective:

To evaluate the associations between adverse perinatal outcomes and serum transaminase levels at the time of diagnosis in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized for evaluation of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy from January 2013 to June 2014 in a tertiary center. Seventy-one patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (Group I) or absence of adverse perinatal outcomes (Group II).

Results:

The mean aminotransferase levels and conjugated bilirubin levels at the time of diagnosis were significantly higher in Group I than in Group II. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the alanine aminotransferase level could predict adverse perinatal outcomes with 76.47% sensitivity and 78.38% specificity, and the cut-off value was 95 IU/L. Among patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, those with adverse perinatal outcomes were significantly older, had an earlier diagnosis, and had higher alanine aminotransferase levels. Using the 95-IU/L cut-off value, patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy had a 3.54-fold increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes.

Conclusions:

Patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and high alanineaminotransferase levels should be followed up for possible adverse perinatal outcomes.

Review of a challenging clinical issue: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a reversible pregnancy-specific cholestatic condition characterized by pruritus, elevated liver enzymes, and increased serum bile acids. It commences usually in the late second or third trimester, and quickly resolves after delivery. The incidence is higher in South American and Scandinavian countries (9.2%-15.6% and 1.5%, respectively) than in Europe (0.1%-0.2%). The etiology is multifactorial where genetic, endocrine, and environmental factors interact. Maternal outcome is usually benign, whereas fetal complications such as preterm labor, meconium staining, fetal distress, and sudden intrauterine fetal demise not infrequently lead to considerable perinatal morbidity and mortality. Ursodeoxycholic acid is shown to be the most efficient therapeutic agent with proven safety and efficacy. Management of ICP consists of careful monitoring of maternal hepatic function tests and serum bile acid levels in addition to the assessment of fetal well-being and timely delivery after completion of fetal pulmonary maturity. This review focuses on the current concepts about ICP based on recent literature data and presents an update regarding the diagnosis and management of this challenging issue.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and timing of delivery

OBJECTIVE

We examined the morbidities from delivery at earlier gestational ages versus intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) for women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) to determine the optimal gestational age for delivery.

METHODS

A decision-analytic model was created to compare delivery at 35 through 38 weeks gestation for different delivery strategies: (1) empiric steroids; (2) steroids if fetal lung maturity (FLM) negative; (3) wait a week and retest if FLM negative; or (4) deliver immediately. Literature review identified 18 studies that estimated IUFD in ICP; we used the mean rate, 1.74%, and assumed a uniform distribution from 34 to 40 weeks gestation. Large cohort data was used to calculate neonatal morbidity rates at each gestational age. Maternal and neonatal quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were combined. Univariate sensitivity and Monte Carlo analyses were performed to test for robustness.

RESULTS

Immediate delivery at 36 weeks without FLM testing and steroid administration was the optimal strategy as compared to delivery at 36 weeks with steroids (+47 QALYs) and as compared to immediate delivery at 35 weeks (+210 QALYs). Our results were robust up to a 30% increase in the rate of IUFD.

CONCLUSION

Immediate delivery at 36 weeks in women with ICP is the optimal delivery strategy.