Viral Hepatitis and Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

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Abstract
Specific serological tests which are now available for the diagnosis of infection with hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses were used to distinguish viral hepatitis from other causes of liver disease in pregnancy. Forty-nine (51.6%) of 95 pregnant patients had viral hepatitis, 24 hepatitis A and 25 hepatitis B. The majority of patients (26 of 28) presenting before 22 wk gestation had viral hepatitis. Of the remaining 67 patients presenting with abnormal liver function tests at .gtoreq. 22 wk gestation, 23 (34.3%) had viral hepatitis; the majority of the remainder had features compatible with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Although there were significant clinical and biochemical differences between the 2 groups, accurate diagnosis was only possible using specific virological tests.