Pruritus in Pregnancy

Itching is a common complaint in pregnancy, occurring in up to 14 to 23% of women. Pruritus may be so severe that it affects sleep and quality of life. It has a prevalence of 0.7 to 5% in different populations.1 Prevalence is influenced by genetic and environmental factors and varies between populations worldwide. In Chile, 2.4% of all pregnancies are affected with a 5% prevalence in women of Araucanian-Indian origin.1 Obstetric cholestasis (OC) (also referred to as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy) is a multifactorial condition of pregnancy characterized by pruritus in the absence of a skin rash with abnormal liver function tests (LFTs), neither of which has an alternative cause and both of which resolve after delivery.2 Investigations to exclude other causes of pruritus and of abnormal LFTs should be performed. Obstetric cholestasis has a potential for fetal risks, which may include spontaneous preterm birth, iatrogenic preterm birth and fetal death. Intense pruritus causes. Maternal morbidity and sleep deprivation. An interdisciplinary management of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy by dermatologists, hepatologists, gynecologists and pediatricians is absolutely mandatory.