Abstract: Background: Liver diseases during pregnancy present unique challenges, with diverse clinical manifestations, necessitating specialized care to reduce maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. This study investigated maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women presenting with jaundice, shedding light on this complex interplay between liver function and pregnancy.
Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, spanning one year during 2020. The study included pregnant women presenting with jaundice, abnormal liver function tests, or relevant symptoms. Data was meticulously collected and analyzed, emphasizing demographic factors, clinical presentations and etiology.
Results: The study included 60 participants, with a mean age of 27.08 years. Most women fell within the 19-25 year age group. Pruritus was the predominant complaint (41.7%), indicative of cholestatic liver diseases. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (30%) was the most common etiology of jaundice, followed by pre-eclampsia (20%) and hepatitis (13.3%). Maternal complications included blood transfusions (21.6%) and ICU admissions (8.47%). NICU admissions for neonates (47.2%) were primarily due to neonatal jaundice (57.7%). The study reported 6.8% stillbirths and 1.8% neonatal mortality.
Conclusion: Liver diseases in pregnancy require a multidisciplinary approach involving obstetricians, neonatologists, intensivists, hepatologists, and hematologists. Timely diagnosis, prophylaxis for postpartum hemorrhage, and coagulopathy management are essential. Further research and improved clinical practices are needed to enhance the management of liver diseases during pregnancy, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
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