Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy; 10 Years’ Experience in a Large Tertiary Center in Egypt

Abstract

Objective: To provide a description for the demographics, clinical presentation, maternal and
perinatal outcome in patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) admitted in Assiut
Woman’s Health Center, Egypt.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study over a period of 10 years included
all women who were admitted in Assiut Woman’s Health Center with the diagnosis of AFLP.
Data were collected from the records of patients; their symptoms, laboratory findings, clinical
course, maternal and perinatal outcome were reviewed.
Results: Thirty-two women with AFLP were identified. Twenty-nine of them were diagnosed
in the antepartum period, and three cases were diagnosed after delivery. There were 27 cases
of maternal deaths (84.7%). Persistent nausea and vomiting was the most common initial
presentation (68.8%). Moderate rise of liver transaminases was the only constant laboratory
finding in all cases.
Conclusions: AFLP is a medical and obstetrical emergency. In Egypt, the disease still has a high
mortality rate. Lack of awareness of many health care providers about the nature of this
mysterious disease is a contributing factor. Early recognition and treatment can improve both
maternal and fetal survival.