Bile Acid Concentration Reference Ranges in a Pregnant Latina Population

Abstract

Objective The total bile acid (TBA) concentration criterion for diagnosing intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy varies in the published literature. The purpose of this study was to establish pregnancy-specific reference ranges for the TBA concentration among Latina women.

Study Design Self-identified Latina women (n = 211) over 18 years of age with a singleton pregnancy were recruited and had random serum samples drawn during the second and third trimesters. The total and fractionated bile acid concentrations were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and reference ranges were calculated. Laboratory-provided general reference ranges from a general population of adult men and nonpregnant women were used for comparison.

Results The TBA reference range for our Latina pregnant population (<8.5 µmol/L) was markedly lower than the laboratory-provided reference range (4.5 to 19.2 µmol/L).

Conclusion These data suggest that the upper TBA concentration reference range in our Latina pregnant population is 8.5 µmol/L, based on LC-MS/MS measurements.

Keywords

cholestasis - pregnancy - bile - acid - range

Notes

Presented at the 78th Annual Pacific Coast Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Meeting, Sun River, Oregon, September 15–18, 2011.

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