The significance of meconium in the intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Abstract

1. We studied 202 pregnant women who were porter of pregnancy intrahepatic cholestasis (CIE). They were attended at the High Risk Fetus Unity (FAR) at the Hospital Salvador Maternity. They were compared with a control group that was composed by 404 patients with normal pregnancy. 2. The patients with CIE presented three times more risk of having a newborn infant of preterm than the other group (p < 0.01) omitting the cesarean factor. 3. The patients with CIE but without an associated pathology, also didn't present a greater risk of having a newborn infant of below weight (< 2,500 g) neither a newborn infant with Apgar 1' > 7, at any gestational age and any way of delivery, than the control group. 4. The risk of having meconium is three times greater in the patients with CIE. This risk increases (Odds ratio = 4.87 with p < 0.01) when they present an associated pathology. 5. Analyzing separately the group of patients with CIE and meconium and comparing with the control group, we didn't find any difference between both groups in relation with the risk of below weight (< 2,500 g), Apgar 1' < 7 and strangely preterm delivery. 6. The presence of meconium in patients with CIE and without an associated pathology, disposing adequate monitoring of pregnancy and delivery, is postulate that it isn't in relation with bad new born infant prognostic.