Acute fatty liver of pregnancy in a Taiwanese tertiary care center: a retrospective review.

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.