Fetal Prognosis in Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Abstract

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common pregnancy-specific liver disease, characterized by pruritus associated with elevated serum bile acid concentrations and abnormal liver function tests in the absence of another obvious etiology. Although maternal symptoms are, in most cases, self-limited and resolve rapidly after delivery, clinical and scientific interest in this entity derives from its disproportionate impact on fetal prognosis, making ICP a condition of major clinical relevance in maternal-fetal medicine: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, complemented by an additional literature exploration through Google Scholar to identify relevant articles that were not indexed in a standard way The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed by evaluating study design, sample size, inclusion criteria, and potential sources of bias, including selection, confounding, and reporting bias. Maternal disease severity may appear disproportionate to the potential fetal consequences, making clinical management complex and highly individualized. Conclusion. This review highlights the current evidence linking ICP to adverse perinatal outcomes, with important implications for risk stratification and clinical management practice.