Acute fatty liver in the second trimester

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 93; no. 5; pp. 811 - 813
• Main Authors: Monga, Manju, Katz, Allan R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.05.1999; The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Diagnosis, Differential; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Fatty Liver - diagnosis; Fatty Liver - diagnostic imaging; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications - diagnostic imaging; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Second trimester; Case study; Pregnancy; Human; Liver failure; Pregnancy disorders; Acute; Digestive diseases; Hepatic disease; Complication; Female
• ISSN: 0029-7844; 1873-233X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0029-7844(98)00519-5

Background: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare, potentially fatal disease that occurs in the late third trimester or early postpartum period. The case of a woman with acute fatty liver in the second trimester is presented. Case: A 35-year-old woman, gravida 5, para 4, presented at 22 weeks’ gestation with nausea, vomiting, malaise, weight loss, and moderately elevated liver transaminase levels. The differential diagnoses included viral gastroenteritis and cholelithiasis. During the next 12 days, her transaminase levels increased, jaundice developed, her sensorium changed, and coagulopathy appeared. After the patient was transferred to a tertiary care hospital, acute fatty liver of pregnancy was diagnosed. The woman rapidly improved after delivery. Conclusion: Although acute fatty liver of pregnancy usually occurs in the late third trimester or early postpartum period, it can occur in the second trimester.