The etiology of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: towards solving a monkey puzzle

Clinical and epidemiological findings implicate genetic predisposition and the effects of elevated steroids in pregnancy in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. To date, a number of studies have identified polymorphisms encoding biliary canalicular transporters, including those encoded by ABCB4 and ABCB11, which are associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Questions remain regarding divergent findings between populations and the relative contributions of these polymorphisms. In a large study of Western European women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, Dixon et al. (this issue) provide further insights into the genetics of this cholestatic syndrome, which contribute to ongoing evaluation of cholestasis generally.