To determine whether it is pregnancy itch or cholestasis, it is important to distinguish from the time of itching, the characteristics of itching and laboratory tests.
1. When itching occurs: Itching during pregnancy can occur at any time during pregnancy, while intrahepatic cholestasis occurs in the middle to late stages of pregnancy, mostly after 30 weeks of pregnancy.
2. Characteristics of itching: itching during pregnancy can be found in any part of the body, and the degree of itching varies, while intrahepatic cholestasis usually starts from the palms of the hands and feet, and gradually extends to the proximal part of the limbs, and even develops to the face, which is often mild during the daytime and severe at night.
3. Laboratory tests: intrahepatic cholestasis can be seen in serum total bile acid elevation, elevated transaminases in liver function, while the itchy pregnancy does not have the elevation of these indicators.
Because intrahepatic cholestasis can cause intrauterine distress, preterm labor, intracranial hemorrhage in the newborn, etc., therefore, when itching occurs in pregnancy, especially in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, it is necessary to go to the hospital in a timely manner, to exclude intrahepatic cholestasis, to avoid adverse outcomes.