Gall bladder volume and serum bile acids in cholestasis of pregnancy

Gall bladder volume was measured by ultrasound in eight patients with cholestasis of pregnancy, in 21 normal pregnant women and in 14 non-pregnant women, and at the same time serum cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid levels were estimated. The gall bladder volume was 60% larger in cholestasis than that in normal pregnancy and more than two times larger in normal pregnancy than in non-pregnant women. The serum cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid concentrations were significantly higher in cholestasis of pregnancy than those in normal pregnancy.