Apoptosis May Have a Role in Etiopathogenesis of Obstetric Cholestasis.

Apoptosis May Have a Role in Etiopathogenesis of Obstetric Cholestasis.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a disease specific to pregnancy period; especially late second and third trimester. We aimed to investigate the role of apoptosis in etiopathogenesis of obstetric cholestasis.

M30 (caspases cleaved Cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) fragment) is a specific apoptosis marker. We aimed to use it to evaluate the apoptotic process.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Late second or third trimester of pregnancy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Foreknown systemic diseases, multiple pregnancy, smoking cigarettes.