{"title":"Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in Chile: Analysis of epidemiological change and a microbiological hypothesis.","authors":"Cristian Contreras Vidal, Jorge Carvajal Cabrera","doi":"10.5867/medwave.2026.03.3161","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a gestational pathology with an unusual epidemiological and pathophysiological behavior that remains partially unexplained. Its current global incidence ranges from 0.1% to 2%. However, in Chile, the incidence reached up to 15% in the 1970s, with a marked decrease over subsequent decades, being nowadays about 1 to 2%. The reasons for this historical change are not fully understood. A literature-based analysis was conducted, focusing on clinical, microbiological, and epidemiological studies on intrahepatic cholestasis and other hepatobiliary diseases. The aim of this was to explore existing evidence and to propose a microbiological hypothesis that could help explain the epidemiological transition observed in Chile. Notably, the temporal reduction in incidence paralleled a nationwide decline in biliary disease and typhoid fever. We hypothesize that the eradication or significant reduction of certain pathogens, such as Typhi, may have contributed to the normalization of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy rates in Chile.</p>","PeriodicalId":18597,"journal":{"name":"Medwave","volume":"26 3","pages":"e3161"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8000,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Medwave","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2026.03.3161","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a gestational pathology with an unusual epidemiological and pathophysiological behavior that remains partially unexplained. Its current global incidence ranges from 0.1% to 2%. However, in Chile, the incidence reached up to 15% in the 1970s, with a marked decrease over subsequent decades, being nowadays about 1 to 2%. The reasons for this historical change are not fully understood. A literature-based analysis was conducted, focusing on clinical, microbiological, and epidemiological studies on intrahepatic cholestasis and other hepatobiliary diseases. The aim of this was to explore existing evidence and to propose a microbiological hypothesis that could help explain the epidemiological transition observed in Chile. Notably, the temporal reduction in incidence paralleled a nationwide decline in biliary disease and typhoid fever. We hypothesize that the eradication or significant reduction of certain pathogens, such as Typhi, may have contributed to the normalization of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy rates in Chile.
期刊介绍：
Medwave is a peer-reviewed, biomedical and public health journal. Since its foundation in 2001 (Volume 1) it has always been an online only, open access publication that does not charge subscription or reader fees. Since January 2011 (Volume 11, Number 1), all articles are peer-reviewed. Without losing sight of the importance of evidence-based approach and methodological soundness, the journal accepts for publication articles that focus on providing updates for clinical practice, review and analysis articles on topics such as ethics, public health and health policy; clinical, social and economic health determinants; clinical and health research findings from all of the major disciplines of medicine, medical science and public health. The journal does not publish basic science manuscripts or experiments conducted on animals. Until March 2013, Medwave was publishing 11-12 numbers a year. Each issue would be posted on the homepage on day 1 of each month, except for Chile’s summer holiday when the issue would cover two months. Starting from April 2013, Medwave adopted the continuous mode of publication, which means that the copyedited accepted articles are posted on the journal’s homepage as they are ready. They are then collated in the respective issue and included in the Past Issues section.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
