Infantile food allergy to be affected by Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis is a common liver disorder that occurs in pregnant women. Cholestasis is a condition that impairs the release of a digestive fluid called bile from liver cells. As a result, bile builds up in the liver, impairing liver function and leading to allergy. Cholestasis occurs in about 1 out of 1,000 pregnancies but is more common in Swedish and Chilean ethnic groups.

There has been a higher incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes because of this condition. Previous studies mainly focused on the effects of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy on pregnant mothers and fetuses, and few studies reported the postpartum growth and development of fetuses in pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

A retrospective longitudinal cohort investigation published in European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology reported that among 751 pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy at 30-32 weeks of gestation that, the average maternal serum total bile acid level was 35.09±30.02 μmol/L, with 58.8% of mothers suffering from mild intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and 29.2% suffering from severe intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Positive correlations were found between maternal serum total bile acid levels and twin pregnancy showed beta-value of 11.55, and meconium stained amniotic fluid beta-value of 14.64, In addition, the infants of mothers with severe intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy were more likely to be allergic to foods at 6 months.

This study concluded that despite pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy taking ursodeoxycholic acid tablets and cesarean section before expected date of childbirth, the perinatal outcome of newborns partially improving, the incidence of infantile food allergy was still increased.