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Acute liver failure in pregnancy. A case report
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
The Journal of Reproductive Medicine
|March 21, 2001
Summary
Coxsackie B virus infection can cause severe liver problems in pregnant women, leading to acute liver failure. Prompt diagnosis and management are crucial for maternal and fetal outcomes in these rare cases.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Liver disease in pregnancy encompasses conditions coincidentally occurring during gestation and those exclusive to pregnancy.
- Infectious etiologies of acute hepatitis include hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, E), herpesvirus, and cytomegalovirus.
- Coxsackie B virus infections, though typically causing mild illness, have rarely been linked to fulminant hepatic failure.
Observation:
- A case of Coxsackie B virus infection leading to acute liver failure in a pregnant woman is presented.
- The patient was managed expectantly, with successful resolution of liver disease.
- Delivery occurred five weeks after the patient's discharge from the hospital.
Findings:
- Coxsackie B virus infection was identified as the cause of acute liver failure in this gravid patient.
- Expectant management resulted in the resolution of hepatic disease.
- The patient successfully delivered after recovery from liver failure.
Implications:
- The insidious onset of hepatic disease in pregnancy, often with vague symptoms, necessitates thorough evaluation.
- Accurate diagnosis of the liver disease etiology is critical for determining appropriate management, including expectant care versus immediate delivery.
- This case highlights the potential for Coxsackie B virus to cause severe hepatic complications during pregnancy, emphasizing the need for clinical vigilance.