Objective To investigate the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with bile acid in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients (ICP). Methods Thirty three ICP patients and 30 normal pregnant women in late pregnancy were studied, maternal serum VEGF concentrations were examined by enzymelinked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Capillaries density in placenta are detected by s ABC immunohistochemistry, radio immunity method is used to assay the maternal serum glycocholic acid. Results Serum VEGF in ICP (2 072? 17) ng/L has negative correlation with glycocholic acid (47 9?14 2) ng/L, however, positive correlation with capillaries density in placenta (68?5)/HP; The serum VEGF in normal pregnant woman (2 256?30) ng/L does not have relationship to glycocholic acid (1 6?0 7) ng/L but it has positive correlation with capillaries density in placenta (74?7)/HP.Conclusion Cytotoxicity of high concentration bile acids impairs vascular endothelial cells resulting in lower excretion of VEGF in vascular endothelial cells of ICP, which lead to placental blood capillaries dysplasia and lower permeability, it may be one of reasons of fetal distress and fetal death in uteri in ICP.

Objective To investigate the change of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in placenta for patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in order to search the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP).Methods 33 ICP patients and 30 normal advanced pregnancy (NLP) were studied.The distribution of VEGF expression and blood capillaries density in placenta were detected respectively by s-ABC immunohistochemistry,and by western blot method.Results The distribution of VEGF in placenta was similar those of ICP and NLP ,but level of expression of VEGF in placenta was significantly lower in ICP than that of NLP (P