In this study, we aimed to investigate the serum FGF19 levels in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and its relative factors.

This prospective clinical study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. 25 women whose pregnancies were complicated with ICP and 25 healthy pregnant women without ICP were recruited for the study group. The fasting blood samples for the FGF19 analyses were prospectively collected. The serum FGF19 concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the serological indicators including ALT, AST, TBA, and TBil were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer.The patient characteristics, including maternal age, gestational age at the time of diagnosis and delivery, body mass index (BMI), and perinatal outcome were followed up and recorded. Student′s text, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Chi-square test and the Spearman′s rank coefficient of correlation were used for statistical analysis. The differences in serum FGF19 levels between the two groups were compared and the relative factors were analyzed.

The mean and median levels of maternal serum FGF19 in the ICP cases were 116.43 pg/ml and 87.17 pg/ml, which were significantly lower than in the control group(234.93 pg/ml and 176.67 pg/ml) (P<0.05). A significantly negative correlation was between maternal serum FGF19 levels and maternal serum total bile acid levels in ICP patients (r=-0.472, P=0.017), but there was no correlation between the two indexes in healthy pregnant women (P>0.05). There was no correlation between serum FGF19 levels and serum ALT concentrations, serum AST concentrations, serum TBil concentrations, maternal age, gestational age of at the time of diagnosis, or BMI. Compared with healthy pregnant women, the ICP cases have higher serum AST levels, lower preconception BMI and earlier delivery (P<0.05).

The serum FGF19 levels decreased in ICP patients and were negatively correlated with the serum total bile acid concentrations. FGF19 may be used as an auxiliary diagnostic factor for ICP.