title: Liver Failure in Pregnancy.
abstract: Acute liver failure is a rare but life-threatening medical emergency in pregnancy whose true incidence remains unknown. Many cases of acute liver failure are caused by pregnancy-related conditions such as acute fatty liver of pregnancy and HELLP syndrome. However, acute deterioration in liver function can also be caused by drug overdose, viral infections, and an exacerbation of underlying chronic liver disease. This article provides an overview of the normal liver changes that occur during pregnancy, and summarizes the most common conditions and general management strategies of liver failure during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 668, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bacak
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 668, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Electronic address: Loralei_Thornburg@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Loralei L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Thornburg
mesh_terms: D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic / Q000592:standards; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000150:complications; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D063130:Maternal Death / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000082:Acetaminophen
keywords: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy; HELLP syndrome; Liver failure; Pregnancy; Viral infections