Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy: A Thorough Examination of a Harmful Obstetrical Syndrome and Its Counterparts

Diagnosed in one of every 20,000 deliveries, acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) was considered to be a deadly disease for many years. However, advancements in the clinical and surgical management of pregnant mothers have lead to a drastic decrease in maternal morbidity and mortality.

The corresponding case recounts a 23-year-old gravida 2 para 1 (G2P1) at 38 weeks gestational age (GA) with no relevant past medical or family medical history that presented to the emergency department (ED) with a five-day history of nausea, protracted vomiting, hypertension, and new-onset headache. Being late in the third trimester, preeclampsia was the top differential diagnosis while awaiting additional laboratory work-up. The work-up later revealed elevated liver function tests and bilirubin plus an abnormal coagulation profile with low fibrinogen. The differential was then shifted to AFLP versus hemolysis-elevated liver enzymes-low platelets (HELLP) syndrome. The patient was promptly transferred to the labor and delivery unit for close monitoring and delivery planning. Upon cervical examination, the patient was not dilated and was therefore determined to be remote from delivery. A cesarean section was performed and the mother was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) post-operatively to optimize management of her coagulopathy. Her abnormal laboratory studies normalized by post-operative day four and she was discharged home with her newborn.