Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy in a Taiwanese Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Review

• Main Authors: Hui-Hsuan Lau (Author), Yi-Yung Chen (Author), Jian-Pei Huang (Author), Chen-Yu Chen (Author), Tsung-Hsien Su (Author), Chie-Pein Chen (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2010-06-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1028-4559; 10.1016/S1028-4559(10)60033-2
• Keywords: acute fatty liver of pregnancy; disseminated intravascular coagulation; fetal death; hypoglycemia; renal failure; Gynecology and obstetrics; RG1-991
• Source: Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vol 49, Iss 2, Pp 156-159 (2010)

Objective: To evaluate the demographics, clinical presentations, laboratory findings, and maternal and fetal outcomes in patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of the records of pregnant patients with a diagnosis of acute fatty liver in a tertiary medical center over a 22-year period. Results: Eighteen patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy were recruited, all of whom developed the disease in the third trimester. Eleven women (61%) were primigravid and four (22%) had twin pregnancies; six (33%) were diagnosed antepartum, and the other 12 (67%) were diagnosed postpartum. There were two maternal deaths (11%) and four fetal deaths (18%). The most common complications apart from severe liver dysfunction were acute renal failure (83%), hypoglycemia (61%), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (61%). Conclusion: Women who become acutely ill during the third trimester of pregnancy should undergo tests for acute fatty liver of pregnancy, including laboratory tests for assessing liver function and coagulation profile.