Influence of placenta on fetal hypoxia in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of placenta on fetal hypoxia in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). METHODS: The transfer of oxygen across the placental membranes in ICP group (n = 7) was compared with that of controls (n = 8) by dual perfusion of the human placental lobule in vitro. RESULTS: The oxygen consumption and the volume loss of perfusate from the fetal circuit (< 5 ml/h) of placental lobule from women with ICP are similar to controls. The rate of oxygen transfer across the placental membranes in ICP was similar to controls, too (P < 0.05, Power > 0.08). These findings suggest that the transfer of oxygen across the placental membrane in ICP is normal value. CONCLUSION: The placenta in ICP has not direct impact on the fetal oxygenation just leads to insufficiency of placental oxygen reserve resulting from a reduction in the size of the intervilous space.