What is acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP)?
Liver failure, usually from unknown cause in late pregnancy, is referred to as acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) typically occurs in first-time pregnancies in the last trimester. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare, but serious, condition of pregnancy in which there is an excessive accumulation of fat in the liver or liver cells. Fat normally
accumulates in the liver in the form of triglycerides and fatty acids, but excessive fat can cause liver damage. AFLP is quite rare, however, it is a serious condition that cannot be predicted or prevented.
The cause of AFLP is unknown. It is thought that hormones of pregnancy play a role in this condition, but there does not seem to be an increased risk for future pregnancies. AFLP usually begins late in the third trimester of pregnancy. The following are the most common symptoms of AFLP. However, each woman may experience symptoms differently. AFLP causes nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain especially in the upper abdomen (epigastrium), jaundice (yellowing), frequent thirst (polydipsia) and increased urination (polyuria), fatigue, headache, and altered mental state.
Usually, the symptoms of AFLP are often clear enough to diagnose the condition. Laboratory features of AFLP include profoundly low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), elevated liver enzymes (eg, serum transaminase activity) and low levels of platelets (cell fragments in blood needed for clotting). The liver is infiltrated with fat. Blood tests can rule out other conditions or diseases that have similar symptoms. Ultrasound (a diagnostic imaging technique which uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs) or computed tomography (CT) scan (a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images, often called slices, both horizontally and vertically, of the body) may also be used for diagnosis.
If untreated, AFLP can cause complete liver failure, bleeding (because of impaired blood clotting) and death of the mother and child. AFLP is treated by delivering the baby as soon as possible. Early diagnosis of AFLP and prompt delivery dramatically improve the outcome and the once-bleak outlook. Women with AFLP generally improve soon after delivery, unless the liver damage is severe. As a general rule, AFLP does not usually recur during a subsequent pregnancy. |
More information on fatty liver
What's fatty liver? - Fatty liver disease can range from fatty liver alone to fatty liver associated with inflammation. Fatty liver is the collection of excessive amounts of triglycerides and other fats inside liver cells.
What causes fatty liver? - The most common cause of fatty liver is alcoholism. Conditions that can also cause fatty liver are other forms of malnutrition, obesity, diabetes mellitus.
What're the symptoms of fatty liver? - Fatty liver usually produces no symptoms. Symptoms that occur less often in alcoholic fatty liver are nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.
How is fatty liver diagnosed? - A physical examination that reveals an enlarged liver without any other symptoms suggests fatty liver. A liver biopsy can be used to confirm fatty liver.
What's the treatment for fatty liver? - Treatment for fatty liverinvolves correcting the condition that caused fatty liver and providing supportive care.
What is acute fatty liver of pregnancy? - Liver failure, usually from unknown cause in late pregnancy, is referred to as acute fatty liver of pregnancy. |
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