How to Say It: Uh-cute Fat-e Live-er of Preg-nan-see
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare buildup of fat in the liver. If it is not treated right away, it can lead to coma, organ failure, and death of the mother and baby.
The cause is not known. It may be due to a problem in a certain enzyme in the mother.
Things that may raise a pregnant woman’s risk are:
Some women do not have symptoms. Those who do have problems that are not specific. Most symptoms start in the third trimester.
Problems may be:
You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.
Tests that may be done are:
Images may be taken to check liver size. This can be done with ultrasound.
The only way to cure this condition is to deliver the baby. The decision to do so depends on how many weeks along a woman is in her pregnancy. Labor may happen on its own or it may be started by the doctor. Liver function will return to normal after delivery.
There are no guidelines to prevent this problem.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
http://www.acog.org
March of Dimes
http://www.marchofdimes.org
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada
http://sogc.org
Acute fatty liver disease of pregnancy. British Liver Trust website. Available at: http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/liver-information/liver-conditions/acute-fatty-liver-of-pregnancy. Accessed October 27, 2020.
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-fatty-liver-of-pregnancy. Accessed October 27, 2020.
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Stanford Children’s Health website. Available at: http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=acute-fatty-liver-of-pregnancy-90-P02465. Accessed October 27, 2020.
Bacq Y. Liver diseases unique to pregnancy: a 2010 update. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2011 Mar;35(3):182-193.
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. March of Dimes website. Available at: http://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/liver-disorders.aspx. Accessed October 27, 2020.
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD