Pregnancy-associated severe liver dysfunction

Crit Care Clin. 2004 Oct;20(4):763-76, xi. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2004.05.006.

Abstract

Determining the cause of liver disease in pregnancy can present a difficult challenge for clinicians. Minor elevations in aminotransferases may be a harbinger of life-threatening processes, such as acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) or hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. Preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and AFLP form a spectrum of disease that ranges from involving mild symptoms to severe life-threatening multiorgan system dysfunction. They have been shown to be the primary causes of severe hepatic dysfunction during pregnancy. This article attempts to define the clinical and diagnostic features, pathophysiology, and treatment options of these diseases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Fatty Liver* / diagnosis
  • Fatty Liver* / physiopathology
  • Fatty Liver* / therapy
  • Female
  • HELLP Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • HELLP Syndrome* / physiopathology
  • HELLP Syndrome* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Liver Diseases* / physiopathology
  • Liver Diseases* / therapy
  • Pre-Eclampsia* / diagnosis
  • Pre-Eclampsia* / physiopathology
  • Pre-Eclampsia* / therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications* / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications* / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy Complications* / therapy