Understanding the Liver
AFLP
What is Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy?
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy, which is characterized by microvesicular fatty infiltration of hepatocytes, is a type of disorder which is a bit unique to human pregnancy. The first and foremost cause of AFLP was thought to be due to a mitochondrial dysfunction in the oxidation of fatty acids leading to an accumulation in hepatocytes.
PREVENTION
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a serious condition that can’t be prevented or predicted.
TREATMENT
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is best treated in a centre with expertise in hepatology, high-risk obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology.
The physicians who treat this condition will often consult with experts in liver transplantation in severe cases. Admission to the intensive care unit is recommended.
RISK
• Having your first pregnancy
• Pregnant with twins or more
• Pregnant with a boy
• Thin body
SYMPTOMS
• Nausea and vomiting
• Belly pain, especially in the top right side
• Feeling unwell (malaise)
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Confusion
• Yellowing of skin, eyes, and mucous membranes (jaundice)
