Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: prevalence and ethnic distribution.

We undertook a retrospective analysis of the prevalence of obstetric cholestasis in the population of the South Birmingham area in the various ethnic subgroups. A diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy was made on the basis of symptoms of generalised pruritus along with biochemical evidence of the condition, after ruling out other liver diseases. We found an overall prevalence of 0.7%, with an occurrence in the white population of 0.62%, compared to that in the Asians of Pakistani origin of 1.46%. In the Asians of Indian origin it was found to be 1.24%. The prevalence of obstetric cholestasis was significantly higher in the Pakistani and Indian subgroups compared to the whites.