title: Severe hepatic dysfunction in pregnancy.
abstract: Acute liver disease in pregnancy may have fatal consequences. Pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome and acute fatty liver of pregnancy form a spectrum of disease that range from mild symptoms to severe life-threatening multi-organ dysfunction. Early recognition of signs and prognostic indicators may enable prompt referral to specialist centres providing the multidisciplinary support required to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. We review the common causes of acute hepatic failure associated with pregnancy, and current management practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, St Thomas' Hospital, London, and. Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK. tonyrahman@hotmail.com
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wendon
mesh_terms: D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods