Emerging Medical Treatments of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Abstract

Although intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is not a serious one, it can be very distrustful to the affected women. It can also lead to significant complications and adverse events over the fetus as what has been previously reported that it is linked with stillbirth, fetal distress, and premature labor, especially in severely affected cases. Many treatment modalities have been proposed to relieve pruritis and enhance the levels of bile acids within the serum of the affected women. The administration of ursodeoxycholic acid has been studied by various studies in the literature, and evidence is conflicting about its potential efficacy and safety. However, recent evidence for a meta-analysis indicates that the modality can reduce pruritis. Nevertheless, the effect is minimal and not significant when compared to the placebo group. No significant differences were also noticed between the placebo and treatment groups. We also found that other treatment modalities than ursodeoxycholic acid can also be administered. Nonetheless, these were not adequately discussed in the literature, and therefore, should be cautiously administered within the clinical settings. Finally, further trials are needed to validate of the current evidence and enhance the quality of reporting and planning proper management guidelines.