Autoimmune liver diseases and pregnancy outcomes: a Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the causal links between autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs) and pregnancy outcomes. Methods Mendelian randomization analysis was utilized in this study. From large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) databases, single nucleotide polymorphisms highly related to primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) were extracted and selected to act as instrumental variables. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) served as the primary analytical method, supplemented by MR-Egger, weighted median, simple model, and weighted model to evaluate causal effects. Moreover, multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the robustness of the results. Results This MR study found causal effects of PBC on both preterm birth (IVW OR:1.0298; 95% CI: 1.0088 to 1.0511; P=0.0051) and offspring birth weight (IVW beta: -0.0166; 95% CI: -0.0225 to -0.0107; P=3.14×10^-8). PSC was positively associated with ectopic pregnancy (IVW OR: 1.0558, 95% CI: 1.0179 to 1.0951; P=0.0036) and spontaneous abortion (IVW OR: 1.0004; 95% CI: 1.0001 to 1.0006; P=0.0181), while AIH was linked to an increased risk of postpartum depression (OR=1.0436; 95% CI 1.0045 to 1.0843; P=0.0285). Conclusion This study offers novel evidence supporting causal relationships between AILDs and pregnancy outcomes.

Key words: Autoimmune liver diseases, Pregnancy outcomes, Mendelian randomization

YUAN Yi, XIONG Zi-chen, DENG Xue-ting, MIAO Lin. Autoimmune liver diseases and pregnancy outcomes: a Mendelian randomization study[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2025, 30(5): 713-721.

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