Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy; 10 Years’ Experience in a Large Tertiary Center in Egypt

Abstract

Objective:To provide a description for the demographics, clinical presentation, maternal and perinatal outcome in patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) admitted in Assiut Woman’s Health Center, Egypt.Materials and Methods:This was a retrospective study over a period of 10 years included all women who were admitted in Assiut Woman’s Health Center with the diagnosis of AFLP. Data were collected from the records of patients; their symptoms, laboratory findings, clinical course, maternal and perinatal outcome were reviewed.Results:Thirty-two women with AFLP were identified. Twenty-nine of them were diagnosed in the antepartum period, and three cases were diagnosed after delivery. There were 27 cases of maternal deaths (84.7%). Persistent nausea and vomiting was the most common initial presentation (68.8%). Moderate rise of liver transaminases was the only constant laboratory finding in all cases. Conclusions:AFLP is a medical and obstetrical emergency. In Egypt, the disease still has a high mortality rate. Lack of awareness of many health care providers about the nature of this mysterious disease is a contributing factor. Early recognition and treatment can improve both maternal and fetal survival.

Keywords

• Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
• jaundice
• hepatic diseases