The alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme (ADH I) as a marker of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is an important pregnancy liver disorder. The alterations of different enzymes activity in the hepatocytes in the course of liver diseases are reflected in an increase in the activity of the corresponding enzymes in the blood. In present study we assayed the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and its isoenzyme in the serum of patients with ICP. Serum were collected from 100 pregnancies with ICP in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Serum samples were also taken from 100 healthy pregnant women. The activity of ADH I was measured by spectrofluorometric method, ADH total was measured by photometric method. There was significant increase in the activity of ADH I (2.79 mU/l vs. 1.72 mU/l) and total ADH activity (1103 mU/l vs. 682 mU/l) in the sera of women with ICP compared to the healthy pregnant women. Importantly, the sensitivity and specificity of ADH I for diagnosis of ICP were 85% and 91%, respectively. Area under the Receiver Operating Curve for ADH I in ICP was 0.81. The activity of ADH I in the sera of women with ICP is statistically significantly increased, which may have a diagnostic significance for ICP patients.