Skip to main content
Article
Cholestasis in pregnancy associated with ciclosporin therapy in renal transplant recipients
Transplant International
  • Clara Day, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
  • Peter Hewins, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
  • Lumaan Sheikh, Aga Khan University
  • Mark Kilby, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
  • Dawn McPake, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
  • Graham Lipkin, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Publication Date
12-1-2006
Document Type
Article
Abstract

Obstetric cholestasis (OC) presents with pruritus in the second half of pregnancy and is associated with increased risk of foetal distress, intra-uterine death and premature delivery. From a tertiary referral, renal-obstetric clinic, we report the occurrence of OC in 5/23 pregnancies of women with renal transplants maintained on ciclosporin treatment (European incidence 0.1-1.5% of pregnancies). All required premature delivery for foetal reasons at 33-37/40 (median 34/40). Ciclosporin, at therapeutic concentrations, inhibits bile salt excretion pump (BSEP) function in rats and humans. We propose that OC developed in our patients because the mild inhibition of the canalicular pumps by ciclosporin was only revealed in pregnancy when increases in progesterone metabolites overwhelmed pump function. We suggest that all pregnant women receiving ciclosporin should be closely monitored from the second trimester for the development of OC. If detected, enhanced foetal and maternal monitoring to optimize time of delivery and pregnancy outcome is required.

Citation Information
Clara Day, Peter Hewins, Lumaan Sheikh, Mark Kilby, et al.. "Cholestasis in pregnancy associated with ciclosporin therapy in renal transplant recipients" Transplant International Vol. 19 Iss. 12 (2006) p. 1026 - 1029
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lumaan_sheikh/15/