Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2010 May;53(5):428-433. 10.5468/kjog.2010.53.5.428.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy: A case report

• Seo MA
• Kim CW
• Kwon MJ
• Ji BJ
• Park KD

• KMID: 2273875
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/kjog.2010.53.5.428

Abstract

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy are relatively rare but extremely dangerous, because they may quickly develop into a fulminant disease and become a serious life-threatening disorder for mother and fetus in the third trimester. Therefore, early diagnosis, prompt delivery and intensive supportive care the cornerstones in the management of acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Clinical findings in acute fatty liver of pregnancy vary because it may occur with varying degrees of clinical severity and in conjunction with other third trimester symptoms, making early diagnosis difficult. However, careful history and physical examination, in conjunction with compatible laboratory and imaging results, are often sufficient to make the diagnosis, and liver biopsy is rarely indicated. We have experienced a case of acute fatty liver of pregnancy presenting as early hepatic encephalopathy, renal failure which developed during the third trimester. We diagnosed acute fatty liver of pregnancy based on clinical presentation and laboratory abnormalities. Despite of prompt delivery and adequate supportive care management, this severe complication of pregnancy has had an adverse outcome for mother.

Keyword

Acute fatty liver; Early diagnosis; Prompt delivery

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Early Diagnosis
Fatty Liver
Female
Fetus
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Humans
Liver
Mothers
Physical Examination
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications
Pregnancy Trimester, Third
Renal Insufficiency
Fatty Liver
Pregnancy Complications

Figure

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  Fig. 1 CT scan shows intracerebral hemorrhage on Lt. basal ganglia and periventricular white matter with intraventricular hemorrhage.

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