Question

Regarding intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, the FALSE statement is?

• A. Bilirubin level > 2 mg%
• B. Most common cause of jaundice in pregnancy
• C. Oestrogen is involved
• D. Manifestations usually appear in the last trimester

Hint:

Which liver problem actually tops the list of jaundice in any pregnant woman?

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: The question asks for the FALSE statement about intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). ICP is a reversible cholestatic condition that typically presents in the third trimester with pruritus and a mild rise in bile acids and bilirubin.

Step 2: The most common cause of jaundice in pregnancy is viral hepatitis, NOT cholestasis of pregnancy. Therefore option (b) is the false statement and is the answer. ICP is only the most common cause of pregnancy-specific (gestational) cholestatic jaundice, but overall viral hepatitis tops the list.

Step 3: Why the other options are true. In ICP serum bilirubin is usually mildly raised but can exceed $2$ mg%, so (a) is a true statement. The condition is driven by the cholestatic effect of high oestrogen and progesterone, so (c) is true. Symptoms characteristically begin in the last trimester and clear after delivery, so (d) is true.

Step 4: Since the question wants the false statement, the answer is that it is the most common cause of jaundice in pregnancy.