Document Detail


Prospective study of liver dysfunction in pregnancy in Southwest Wales.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  12427793     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Liver dysfunction in pregnancy has serious consequences. Its frequency and characteristics have not been systematically documented in Britain. We have prospectively determined incidence, causes, and outcome of liver dysfunction in pregnancy in an obstetric unit in Southwest Wales, UK.
METHODS: A central laboratory identified all abnormal liver tests (bilirubin >25 micro mol/l, aspartate transaminase >40 U/l, or gamma glutamyl transpeptidase >35 U/l) from patients in antenatal clinics and wards of an obstetric unit serving a population of 250 000. Patients with abnormal liver tests were assessed and followed throughout and after pregnancy [corrected]. Medical advice was provided to obstetric teams.
FINDINGS: There were 4377 deliveries during the 15 month study. A total of 142 patients had abnormal liver tests. There were 206 contributing diagnoses, the great majority being pregnancy specific. Among the most important were pre-eclampsia (68), HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome (30), obstetric cholestasis (23), hyperemesis gravidarum (11), acute fatty liver of pregnancy (five), and hepatic infarct (one). Sepsis, postoperative factors, and placental pathology (51) were not uncommonly responsible but incidental or pre-existing hepatobiliary disease was infrequent (17). Sixty five patients were delivered early by induction or caesarean section because of liver dysfunction. Despite substantial liver related morbidity, there were no maternal deaths and only two intrauterine deaths.
CONCLUSIONS: Liver dysfunction was seen in 3% of deliveries during a 15 month prospective study and was usually directly related to pregnancy with spontaneous recovery in the puerperium. Incidence of the most serious conditions, acute fatty liver of pregnancy and HELLP syndrome, was much greater than previously reported. Profound effects on maternal and infant health were observed but close medical and obstetric collaboration ensured low mortality.
Authors:
C L Ch'ng; M Morgan; I Hainsworth; J G C Kingham
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Gut     Volume:  51     ISSN:  0017-5749     ISO Abbreviation:  Gut     Publication Date:  2002 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2002-11-12     Completed Date:  2002-12-17     Revised Date:  2010-12-28    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985108R     Medline TA:  Gut     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  876-80     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Gastroenterology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Apgar Score
Fatty Liver / physiopathology
Female
Humans
Hyperemesis Gravidarum / physiopathology
Incidence
Infant, Newborn
Liver / physiopathology*
Liver Diseases / etiology,  physiopathology*
Liver Function Tests
Platelet Count
Pre-Eclampsia / complications,  physiopathology
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / etiology,  physiopathology*
Pregnancy Outcome
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies
Syndrome
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Gut. 2011 Jan;60(1):138-9; author reply 139-40   [PMID:  20938054 ]
Erratum In:
Gut. 2003 Feb;52(2):315.

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


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