Document Detail


Antenatal detection of abnormal liver function tests - a marker for poor perinatal outcome.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15512630     Owner:  NLM     Status:  PubMed-not-MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the incidence of liver disease diagnosed in our antenatal population, (b) the diagnostic value of initial symptoms and liver function tests (LFTs), (c) the adequacy of investigation and management of the liver disorder and (d) the obstetric and neonatal outcome in this group of patients. Women with abnormal LFTs that delivered at our hospital over a 2-year period were identified from computerised hospital records and data was obtained from chart review. Forty-six out of a total of 13 181 (0.35%) women had liver disease diagnosed in pregnancy: Diagnoses included intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (13), pre-eclampsia and the HELLP syndrome (eight), acute fatty liver of pregnancy (three), hyperemesis gravidarum (one), hepatitis C (13), B (four) and hepatitis A (one), cholelithiasis (two) and hepatitis of unknown aetiology (one). Symptoms at presentation were more predictive of the final diagnosis than the initial LFT profile. Investigation of the liver disorder was incomplete in 50% of cases. One mother required intensive care for 6 weeks postpartum and three others had significant postpartum haemorrhage. There was one neonatal death and 24 neonates were admitted to the special care baby unit. Eighteen women attended for their postnatal check up at 6 weeks. Eight of these women were referred to a hepatologist. Detection of liver disease in pregnancy identifies a group at risk of poor neonatal and maternal outcome. Structured guidelines should be implemented in obstetric units to facilitate appropriate investigation, treatment and referral patterns for these women.
Authors:
K O'Donoghue; B M Byrne
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology     Volume:  20     ISSN:  0144-3615     ISO Abbreviation:  J Obstet Gynaecol     Publication Date:  2000 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-10-29     Completed Date:  2005-04-28     Revised Date:  2009-11-03    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8309140     Medline TA:  J Obstet Gynaecol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  475-8     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Coombe Women's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Pre-eclampsia - a problem of primipaternity not primigravidity?
Next Document:  Prevalence and determinants of caesarean section in a teaching hospital of Pakistan.