Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) - symptoms and how to test
A potentially life-threatening liver disease that can occur during pregnancy is called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). A condition known as ICP develops when bile acids cannot move through the body. Bile acids typically go from the liver to the digestive tract. Although acute itching due to ICP often occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy, some women experience it as early as the second. Less than 1% of U.S. pregnancies are affected by ICP, with Latina women disproportionately affected. The levels of bile acids in a pregnant woman's blood might fluctuate, so they'll be checked frequently.