ABSTRACT
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare disorder of unknown aetiology that is diagnosed typically in the third trimester or early postpartum period. The incidence is estimated to be 1/6692-1/13,328. The obstetric team must have a high index of suspicion of this pathology, particularly in the presence of clinical and laboratory findings, such as nausea, vomiting, jaundice, increased serum transaminase levels, increased prothrombin time and hypoglycaemia. Early diagnosis followed by prompt delivery and supportive care provides significantly improved maternal and perinatal outcome. Delay in diagnosis of this obstetric emergency may lead to rapid progression to hepatic failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), haemorrhage, encephalopathy, multiple organ failure and finally death. The case of a 34-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 2, with AFLP complicated with DIC is presented herein with a review of literature and discussion of its origin.
Subject(s)
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation/etiology , Fatty Liver/complications , Postpartum Hemorrhage/etiology , Pregnancy Complications , Acute Disease , Adult , Female , Humans , PregnancyABSTRACT
Cortical blindness in pre-eclampsia due petechial hemorrhages, ischemia, focal edema and infarction of the occipital cortex, is mostly reversible.