Objective To investigate the change of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in placenta for patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in order to search the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP).Methods 33 ICP patients and 30 normal advanced pregnancy (NLP) were studied.The distribution of VEGF expression and blood capillaries density in placenta were detected respectively by s-ABC immunohistochemistry,and by western blot method.Results The distribution of VEGF in placenta was similar those of ICP and NLP ,but level of expression of VEGF in placenta was significantly lower in ICP than that of NLP (P0 01), blood capillaries density in placenta of ICP was significantly decrease than that of NLP(P0 05).Conclusion lower expression of VEGF in placenta in ICP patients than that of NLP could induce placental blood capillaries dysplasia and decrease permeability which could lead to fetal distress.