Acute fatty liver of pregnancy presenting as hepatic encephalopathy at 28 weeks' gestation

• Published in: Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 2008, Vol.28 (1), p.100-102
• Main Authors: de Nagy, J., Strittmatter, C. A., Lee, R. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Blood Cell Count; Blood Chemical Analysis; Blood Gas Analysis; Delivery, Obstetric; Diagnosis, Differential; European Union; Female; Hepatic Encephalopathy - blood; Hepatic Encephalopathy - diagnosis; Hepatic Encephalopathy - pathology; Hepatic Encephalopathy - urine; Hepatitis; Hepatology; Humans; Liver cirrhosis; Liver Failure - blood; Liver Failure - diagnosis; Liver Failure - pathology; Liver Failure - urine; Obstetrics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - blood; Pregnancy Complications - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications - pathology; Pregnancy Complications - urine; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Prenatal Diagnosis; Stillbirth; Urinalysis; Womens health
• ISSN: 0144-3615; 1364-6893
• DOI: 10.1080/01443610701844556

De Nagy et al examine a case of a 23-year-old woman with a history of reversible liver failure and an unusual presentation of acute liver failure during pregnancy with hepatic encephalopathy. The patient's hepatitis screening panel for hepatitis viruses A, B, and C was negative does not rule out the possibility that the patient did have exposure to hepatitis C virus in the past but did not have antibodies to the virus at present. There were no clinical or laboratory findings to indicate active systemic lupus erythematosus or an antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Nevertheless, clinically minor immunologic abnormalities may have contributed to the course of this patient's liver failure.