ICP OBSTETRIC CHOLESTASIS OF PREGNANCY

Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) which is also known as Obstetric Cholestasis of pregnancy is a liver condition which may result in severe itching and jaundice. It is most common in the latter stages of pregnancy when hormone concentrations are at their highest levels. Approximately 1% of pregnancies are affected and women expecting more than one child and those who have had previous liver damage are at higher risk. ICP usually increases in intensity in subsequent pregnancies and the same mother may require earlier delivery for each successive child.

Symptoms which vary in severity and type may include:

• Itching particularly on the hands and feet
• Dark urine
• Pale Stools
• Fatigue or exhaustion
• Sleep deprivation
• Loss of appetite
• Depression

ICP results from a reduced flow of bile fluids which are produced by the liver and continues until the child is delivered. The condition may prove fatal to the unborn child unless it is recognized promptly and treated properly, usually by early delivery around the 35th to 38th week. The condition is often hereditary although it can skip several generations. Following complaint about abnormal itching a doctor should take a blood sample for evaluation and testing as follows:

• Serum Bile Acid Test : This proceedure is a sensitive indicator and a diagnosis is often established by this specialized test which is administered after a short period of fasting.
• Liver Function Test: Measures the liver enzymes in the blood but is not the sole criterion for diagnosis.

Obstetric cholestasis of pregnancy can be difficult to diagnose however itching usually starts on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands and may extend to the rest of the body including the face, ears, mouth and head. One in five patients suffers from jaundice and some infants are born jaundiced and a similar number of mothers suffer from postpartum hemorrhage. ICP is associated with an increased risk for infant stillbirth, premature labor and fetal distress. Treatment requires a reduction in the bile acids in the bloodstream and early delivery of the child.

ICP is relatively rare and many health care professionals are not knowledgeable about the proper procedures for dealing with this problem which can result in medical malpractice. We are an independent legal service and we can help you to exercise your legal rights to obtain compensation. Our lawyers will deal with your claim using a contingency fee arrangement which means if you don't succeed in receiving compensation then your lawyers won't get paid. You will receive a complete professional service from lawyers who specialise in claiming compensation for personal injury caused as a result of clinical negligence. For free advice without obligation just complete the contact form and a qualified lawyer will telephone you immediately to discuss your compensation claim without further obligation.