title: Pregnancy-associated severe liver dysfunction.
abstract: Determining the cause of liver disease in pregnancy can present a difficult challenge for clinicians. Minor elevations in aminotransferases may be a harbinger of life-threatening processes, such as acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) or hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. Preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and AFLP form a spectrum of disease that ranges from involving mild symptoms to severe life-threatening multiorgan system dysfunction. They have been shown to be the primary causes of severe hepatic dysfunction during pregnancy. This article attempts to define the clinical and diagnostic features, pathophysiology, and treatment options of these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. jay.steingrub@bhs.org
authors.forename: Jay S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Steingrub
mesh_terms: D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy