HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Suggest Treatment For Itching On Feet And Palms During Pregnancy

Posted on Tue, 13 Oct 2015

Question: I am 32 weeks pregnant and had itching mainly in palms, feet, and sometimes all over. My doctor advised me to get LFT and bile acid test. The bile acid level was 15 u mol/l. In LFT total protein was 6.22, albumin was 2.48, globulin was 3.74 and ALK phosphate was 184. The doctor prescribed udiliv 300 and has suggested steroid injections. I am comfortable with the medicine but want to be sure if steroid injections are safe course of treatment. Is it true that OC can cause pre term delivery and are injections the only survival option for the baby. So far my pregnancy has been normal without any issues. All ultrasounds and blood reports have been normal.

Answered by Dr. Srilatha Myaka (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
steroid injections are safe

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,welcome to healthcare magic.I understand your concern.
In my opinion obstetric cholestasis(OC) is associated with increased bilirubin and elevated liver enzymes like AST,ALT.ALP (alkaline phosphatase ) is normally elevated in pregnancy so it's increase is not significant.
OC is associated with preterm delivery,post partum haemorrhage etc.
But your symptoms and blood reports are not definitely correlating with OC.
So considering the above things there are less chances of complications.As pruritis might be there in last trimester of pregnancy and is experienced by many woman.
So relax.Nothing to worry.And steroid injections are safe and they aid in lung maturity and avoid complications associated with preterm babies.
It is not for sure that there will be preterm delivery but to be on safe side steroids are prescribed even when there is slight suspicion of preterm labour.
Among the reports you provided albumin appears to lower side so I suggest you to rule out any albumin in urine and high BP.Because sometimes high BP is associated with low protein.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Best regards...Dr.Srilatha

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Srilatha Myaka (8 hours later)

Thanks Dr. Srilatha! Can you tell me what needs to be eaten to get albumin to the right level? My routine urine reports came normal.

Answered by Dr. Srilatha Myaka (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
High protein diet daily

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query.I understand your concern.
In my opinion high protein diet needs to be taken like nuts,dry fruits,egg white daily.
Egg white is the richest source of protein.
Take adequate fluids upto 3 litres .
If there is no proteinuria and the BP is normal you need not worry the low protein will get back to normal.
Applying moisturizer all over the body might also give relief from itching.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Best regards...Dr.Srilatha

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad