[Study of the liver changes by B-ultrasound and histopathology in severe pregnancy induced hypertension]

To investigate the liver changes in severe pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) on B-ultrasound and pathological examination and to detect a possible connection with fatty liver of pregnancy.

From Jan 1992 to Nov 1997, 90 pregnant women in the third trimester were enrolled for study. They were divided into 3 groups: the pregnant women with liver diseases; mild and moderate PIH; and severe PIH (30 cases each). Ultrasonography of the liver was performed on each patient after admission. 15 percutaneous liver biopsies were performed under the guidance of real-time ultrasound scans on 15 severe PIH patients with or without liver dysfunction. Tissues were stained with specific lipid staining (Sudan) and with hematoxylin-eosin. All specimens were analyzed by light microscopy.

Fatty liver was observed by B-ultrasound in 2 and 12 cases of the pregnancy with liver diseases group and the severe PIH group, respectively. 14 of the 15 liver biopsy specimens showed fatty infiltration of varying degrees. however, only 8 of the 14 cases were detected fatty liver by B-ultrasound.

These findings suggest that liver involvement in severe PIH is a pathological change. Severe PIH and acute fatty liver in pregnancy could have related pathogenesis components of the same.