Introduction: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a common maternal liver disease; development can result in devastating consequences, including sudden fetal death and stillbirth. Currently, recognition of ICP only occurs following onset of clinical symptoms.
Objective: Investigate the maternal hair metabolome for predictive biomarkers of ICP.
Methods: The maternal hair metabolome (gestational age of sampling between 17 and 41 weeks) of 38 Chinese women with ICP and 46 pregnant controls was analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Results: Of 105 metabolites detected in hair, none were significantly associated with ICP.
Conclusion: Hair samples represent accumulative environmental exposure over time. Samples collected at the onset of ICP did not reveal any metabolic shifts, suggesting rapid development of the disease.
Keywords: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Hair; Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy; Metabolomics.