First-trimester aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in predicting intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy and its relationship with bile acids: A pilot study

Author(s):  
Harun Egemen Tolunay ◽  
Neval Çayönü Kahraman ◽  
Erol Nadi Varlı ◽  
Seval Yılmaz Ergani ◽  
Mehmet Obut ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 650-654
Author(s):  
İbrahim Kale

Objective: We aimed to investigate the predictive value of the first-trimester aspartate aminotransferase/platelet count ratio index (APRI) and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio for intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy (ICP). Material and Methods: The clinical data of patients who admitted to the Obstetrics Department of Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, between 2015-2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The study group consisted of 44 patients with ICP and the control group consisted of randomly selected 92 healthy pregnant women. Results: The two groups were similar in terms of age, BMI, first and third-trimester platelet count and third-trimester hemoglobin level. Patients with ICP had a significantly higher first-trimester APRI and a lower first trimester AST/ALT ratio than the healthy controls (p <0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). According to the ROC analysis, the optimal cut-off value of the APRI to predict ICP was 0.191, with the sensitivity of 0.66 and specificity of 0.66 (AUC: 0,727), and the optimal cut-off value for AST/ALT ratio was 1.07, with the sensitivity of 0.64, and specificity of 0.62 (AUC: 0,681). Conclusion: The first-trimester APRI score and AST/ALT ratio is an easy, inexpensive, and non-invasive tool that may be useful in predicting ICP early.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olawumi Adaramodu ◽  
Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo

Obstetric cholestasis (OC) is a liver disorder that occurs in the late second and early third trimester of pregnancy characterized by pruritus with increased serum bile acids and other liver function tests. The pathophysiology of OC is still not completely understood. The symptoms and biochemical abnormality rapidly resolve after delivery. OC is associated with an increased risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes. The aetiology of obstetric cholestasis of pregnancy is poorly understood and is thought to be complicated and multifactorial.  OC typically occurs in the late second trimester when the oestrogen levels are the highest in pregnancy. The most common complaint is generalized intense pruritus, which usually starts after the 30th week of pregnancy. Pruritus can be more common in the palms and soles and is typically worse at night. Other symptoms of cholestasis, such as nausea, anorexia, fatigue, right upper quadrant pain, dark urine, and pale stool, can be present. Clinical jaundice is rare but may present in 14% to 25% of patients after 1 to 4 weeks of the onset of pruritus. Some patients also complain of insomnia as a result of pruritus. Generally, physical examination is unremarkable except for scratch marks on the skin from pruritus. Pruritus is a cardinal symptom of intra-hepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and may precede biochemical abnormalities. The diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is via the presence of clinical symptoms pruritus in the third trimester with elevated maternal total serum bile acids and excluding other diagnoses, which can cause similar symptoms and lab abnormalities. Fasting blood samples should be used to check for the total bile salt acid level as it can become elevated in the postprandial state. Once the diagnosis of OC of pregnancy is confirmed, immediate treatment is necessary, and the primary goal of therapy is to decrease the risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality and to alleviate maternal symptoms. Maternal pruritus can be alleviated with use of moisturisers and oral antihistamines. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the drug of choice for the treatment of ICP. Many authors have advocated elective early delivery of women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy to reduce the risk of sudden foetal death. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends induction of labour after 37+0 weeks of gestation. Obstetric cholestasis of pregnancy is not an indication for Caesarean delivery. Postpartum pruritus typically disappears in the first 2 to 3 days following delivery, and serum bile acid concentrations will normalize eventually. ICP is not a contraindication to breastfeeding, and mothers with a history of ICP in pregnancy can breastfeed their infants. Postpartum monitoring and follow up of bile acids and liver function tests should be done in 4-6 weeks to ensure resolution. Women with the persistent abnormality of liver function test after 6 to 8 weeks require investigation for other aetiologies.


Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milos Stulic ◽  
Djordje Culafic ◽  
Ivan Boricic ◽  
Milica Stojkovic Lalosevic ◽  
Nina Pejic ◽  
...  

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a gestation-specific liver disorder, defined most often as the onset of pruritus, usually from the third trimester of pregnancy, associated with abnormal liver test results and/or increased total serum bile acids and spontaneous relief after delivery. The 21-year-old patient was admitted to our ward in the 11th week of pregnancy due to raised liver enzymes. The first onset of pruritus and jaundice appeared a month before hospitalization. Immunology tests and Toxoplasma gondii were negative. We excluded viral etiology, while alpha-1-antitrypsin, serum and urine copper levels, and thyroid hormones were within the reference values. The patient denied she had taken any medicines and herbal preparations before and during pregnancy. Total bile acids in the serum were significantly elevated (242 μmol/L). The abdominal ultrasound revealed a regular finding. Liver biopsy suggested a cholestatic liver disorder. After a presentation of all risks, the patient decided to stop the pregnancy. After a month, the hepatogram was within the reference values. Very rarely an ICP can occur in early pregnancy (first trimester), which calls for close monitoring. The risk of serious adverse fetal outcomes and spontaneous preterm delivery is proportional with increased levels of maternal serum bile acid.


Author(s):  
O E Okosieme ◽  
Medha Agrawal ◽  
Danyal Usman ◽  
Carol Evans

Background: Gestational TSH and FT4 reference intervals may differ according to assay method but the extent of variation is unclear and has not been systematically evaluated. We conducted a systematic review of published studies on TSH and FT4 reference intervals in pregnancy. Our aim was to quantify method-related differences in gestation reference intervals, across four commonly used assay methods, Abbott, Beckman, Roche, and Siemens. Methods: We searched the literature for relevant studies, published between January 2000 and December 2020, in healthy pregnant women without thyroid antibodies or disease. For each study, we extracted trimester-specific reference intervals (2.5–97.5 percentiles) for TSH and FT4 as well as the manufacturer provided reference interval for the corresponding non-pregnant population. Results: TSH reference intervals showed a wide range of study-to-study differences with upper limits ranging from 2.33 to 8.30 mU/L. FT4 lower limits ranged from 4.40–13.93 pmol/L, with consistently lower reference intervals observed with the Beckman method. Differences between non-pregnant and first trimester reference intervals were highly variable, and for most studies the TSH upper limit in the first trimester could not be predicted or extrapolated from non-pregnant values. Conclusions: Our study confirms significant intra and inter-method disparities in gestational thyroid hormone reference intervals. The relationship between pregnant and non-pregnant values is inconsistent and does not support the existing practice in some laboratories of extrapolating gestation references from non-pregnant values. Laboratories should invest in deriving method-specific gestation reference intervals for their population.


Vox Sanguinis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agneta Wikman ◽  
Anette Mörtberg ◽  
Elisabeth Jalkesten ◽  
Yvonne Jansson ◽  
Anita Karlsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 2922
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Romanowska-Próchnicka ◽  
Anna Felis-Giemza ◽  
Marzena Olesińska ◽  
Piotr Wojdasiewicz ◽  
Agnieszka Paradowska-Gorycka ◽  
...  

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a multifunctional Th1 cytokine and one of the most important inflammatory cytokines. In pregnancy, TNF-α influences hormone synthesis, placental architecture, and embryonic development. It was also shown that increased levels of TNF-α are associated with pregnancy loss and preeclampsia. Increased TNF-α levels in complicated pregnancy draw attention to trophoblast biology, especially migratory activity, syncytialisation, and endocrine function. Additionally, elevated TNF-α levels may affect the maternal-fetal relationship by altering the secretory profile of placental immunomodulatory factors, which in turn affects maternal immune cells. There is growing evidence that metabolic/pro-inflammatory cytokines can program early placental functions and growth in the first trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore, early pregnancy placenta has a direct impact on fetal development and maternal immune system diseases that release inflammatory (e.g., TNF-α) and immunomodulatory factors, such as chronic inflammatory rheumatic, gastroenterological, or dermatological diseases, and may result in an abnormal release of cytokines and chemokines in syncytiotrophoblasts. Pregnancy poses a challenge in the treatment of chronic disease in patients who plan to have children. The activity of the disease, the impact of pregnancy on the course of the disease, and the safety of pharmacotherapy, including anti-rheumatic agents, in pregnancy should be considered.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromitsu Nagata ◽  
Hiroyasu Nishizawa ◽  
Susumu Mashima ◽  
Yasuyuki Shimahara

Abstract Background Meckel’s diverticulum is considered the most prevalent congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. Approximately 4% of patients are symptomatic with complications such as bleeding, intestinal obstruction, and inflammation, while axial torsion of Meckel’s diverticulum is rare, particularly in pregnancy. Case presentation A 31-year-old woman in week 15 of pregnancy complained of epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting. Clinical diagnosis was severe hyperemesis gravidarum. Because the symptoms persisted during hospitalization, CT was performed and revealed dilated small bowel loops with multiple air-fluid levels. In the right mid-abdomen, there was a large part of air containing a cavity connected to the small intestine, which was considered a dilated bowel loop. Emergency laparotomy was performed and axial torsion of a large Meckel’s diverticulum measuring 11 cm was found at a few centimeters proximal to the ileocecal valve. Ileocecal resection including Meckel’s diverticulum was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. At 40 weeks gestation, she had vaginal delivery of normal baby. Conclusion The physiological and anatomical changes in pregnancy can make a straightforward clinical diagnosis difficult. Prompt diagnosis and management were needed in order to avoid significant maternal and fetal risks. The use of imaging examinations, especially CT examination, with proper timing may be helpful to prevent delay in diagnosis and surgical intervention. Here, we report the case of a patient with axial torsion of Meckel’s diverticulum in pregnancy. To our knowledge, axial torsion of Meckel’s diverticulum in the first trimester of pregnancy has not been reported in the English medical literature.


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