Successful pregnancy in a woman with secondary biliary cirrhosis with portal hypertension from recurrent pyogenic cholangitis - A case report

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy in women with secondary biliary cirrhosis due to recu rrent pyogenic cholangitis is extremely rare. Little information is availab le on the effect of pregnancy on the disease and vice versa. CASE: A patient who had secondary biliary cirrhosis due to recurrent pyogen ic cholangitis complicated by splenomegaly and portal hypertension had a su ccessful pregnancy. Although she had a history of esophageal variceal bleed ing before this pregnancy, there was no such bleeding during pregnancy. She had an uneventful antenatal course except that her liver enzyme level fluc tuated slightly. The serum bilirubin level increased during the third trime ster of pregnancy but returned to the prepregnant level after delivery. CONCLUSION: Termination of pregnancy may not be the only option for managem ent. The management protocol for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis co mplicating pregnancy, which includes regular fetal surveillance and monitor ing of maternal liver function, should be considered for pregnant women wit h secondary biliary cirrhosis.