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Chapter 37 - Acute fatty liver of pregnancy

from Section 5 - Serious problems related to pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2013

Marc van de Velde
Affiliation:
University Hospital Leuven
Helen Scholefield
Affiliation:
Liverpool Women's Hospital
Lauren A. Plante
Affiliation:
Drexel University College of Medicine
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Summary

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is rare and can present in a similar way to other causes of liver function abnormality both in pregnancy and non-pregnancy related. It may present with signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis, classically nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Two of the most distinctive features of AFLP are profound hypoglycemia and hyperuricemia, which is more marked than the presenting pre-eclamptic features. General anesthesia is frequently preferred for patients with AFLP, given the often severe coagulopathy. Renal and respiratory failure as well as liver failure, encephalopathy and coagulopathies are seen in AFLP. Women who develop fulminant hepatic failure and encephalopathy require transfer to a specialist liver unit. Women who develop renal failure will require optimal fluid resuscitation guided by invasive monitoring in conjunction with treatment for associated morbidity. The risk of bleeding and of venous thromboembolism needs to be balanced.
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Maternal Critical Care
A Multidisciplinary Approach
, pp. 418 - 427
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2013

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