title: Rare cause of abdominal pain and fever in a pregnant woman.
abstract: A pregnant woman (third trimester) presented with intense abdominal pain, nausea and myalgia. The patient was obese (body mass index 38) and was being treated for high blood pressure, hyperuricemia and hypothyroidism. She had chronic renal deficiency related to focal segmental glomerular sclerosis requiring dialysis. The physical examination at admission revealed a fever of 39°C and an acute abdomen with abdominal guarding in the right upper quadrant without hepatomegaly or splenomegaly. There were no clinical signs of pre-eclampsia. Fetal ultrasound and a Doppler of the umbilical vessels were normal. Laboratory tests showed normal liver and liver function (total protein 95%, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin normal). The white cell count was 10×109/l (90% neutrophils), with a normal platelet count. Blood, urine and vaginal cultures were negative. Abdominal ultrasound revealed isolated thickening of the gallbladder wall without cholelithiasis. Empirical antibiotic treatment was begun with intravenous amoxicillin. Six days later, the patient's condition had worsened with increased abdominal pain, persistent fever and liver test abnormalities (AST-ALT 6N). However, bilirubin, hepatic synthesis tests, as well as leucocyte and platelet counts were still normal. A caesarean section followed by coelioscopy was decided. Coelioscopy revealed a liver with numerous necrotic spots (see figure 1).gutjnl;66/11/1911/GUTJNL2016313097F1F1GUTJNL2016313097F1Figure 1Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a liver surface covered with numerous white necrotic spots.
  
  
  
  What is the diagnosis?
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hillaire
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Emmanuel
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.affiliation: Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Picone
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anatomo-Pathologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cazals-Hatem
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: ABDOMINAL PAIN; LIVER DISEASE IN PREGNANCY; SEPSIS