Acute fatty liver of pregnancy with fetal microvesicular hepatic steatosis.

Han, Woo Suk; Seo, Yong Soo; Im, Seung Yeon

doi:2012.55.9.649

Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 55(9); 2012 > Article

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2012;55(9):649-654.
Published online: September 17, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.9.649

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy with fetal microvesicular hepatic steatosis.

Woo Suk Han, Yong Soo Seo, Seung Yeon Im

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. obdrseo@naver.com

Abstract

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a serious maternal disease occurring in the third trimester of pregnancy with significant perinatal and maternal mortality. Until recently the pathogenesis of AFLP was unknown and still has not been fully elucidated. However, recent molecular advances suggest that AFLP may result from mitochondrial dysfunction. Several reports have documented a strong association between AFLP and a deficiency of the enzyme long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase in the fetus, a disorder of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation. Therefore in this case, through findings of liver biopsy from dead fetus, we report possible causal relationship between fetal liver disease and maternal AFLP with literature reviews.

Keywords: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy; Fatty liver; Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase