Evaluation of maternal serum vascular endothelial growth factor C and D levels in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate maternal serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) C and D levels in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).MethodsA total of 83 patients, including 41 patients with ICP and 42 healthy pregnant women, were included in the study. We first compared the maternal serum VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D levels between the ICP and control groups and then examined the correlation between the serum VEGF‐C level and the bile acid level in patients with severe ICP.ResultsWe observed statistically significantly higher serum VEGF‐C levels and lower VEGF‐D levels in the ICP group compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.015, respectively). According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, the optimal cutoff value for ICP was 147 ng/mL in the determination of the VEGF‐C level (specificity and sensitivity: 76%). In patients with severe ICP, the serum VEGF‐C statistically significantly correlated with the bile acid level (P = 0.019).ConclusionThis study showed that the maternal serum VEGF‐C level was higher and the VEGF‐D level was lower in patients with ICP compared with healthy pregnant women. We also found that the VEGF‐C level was correlated with the serum bile acid level in patients with severe ICP. Serum VEGF‐C level can be used in the diagnosis and follow‐up of intrahepatic pregnancy cholestasis.