JAUNDICE IN PREGNANCY

There are three types of disorders which may produce jaundice during pregnancy: 1) acute or chronic coexistent or pre-existent liver disease (acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis etc.), 2) acute and chronic hemolytic disorders, 3) jaundice directly or indirectly related to pregnancy. Among the later group, intrahepatic cholostasis, gravidic hyperemesis with jaundice represent exacerbations of physiologic gravidic cholostasis. Hepatic steatoses of pregnancy are the result of toxic metabolites or drugs on the liver parenchyma. Severe forms of eclampsia may induce jaundice of hemolytic and parenchymal origin. Hypercoagulability may also induce, in the first post-partum days Budd-Chiari's syndorme with accompanying jaundice.