Modified ISTH pregnancy-specific DIC score in parturients with liver rupture: population-based case series

Liver rupture and hematoma are rare life-threatening complications of pregnancy. The aims of the current study are to: (1) characterize in a population-based study all cases of liver hematoma and/or rupture; and (2) validate the utility of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) modified pregnancy specific disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) score in those cases.

A retrospective cohort study including all patients with liver subcapsular hematoma or rupture between the years 1996 and 2012 was conducted. Information on maternal characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, therapeutic modalities, as well as maternal and fetal outcomes was collected. The pregnancy-specific modified ISTH DIC scores were calculated from admission to discharge, a score >26 is suggestive of DIC.

Out of 175,000 births in our database, seven patients were identified with liver rupture or subcapsular hematoma, representing a prevalence of 4:100,000 deliveries. Of those, six had liver rupture and one had subcapsular liver hematoma. One patient died of hemorrhagic shock. Four patients underwent surgical liver packing and one also underwent hepatic artery ligation. Four out of seven patients were diagnosed during the immediate postpartum period with severe features of preeclampsia or with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. Modified ISTH pregnancy-specific DIC scores were calculated for five out of seven patients, and three (60%) had a score higher than 26. Patients with higher scores received more blood product transfusions, had longer hospitalizations, and their neonates had lower 1 and 5 minutes Apgar scores.

Elevated pregnancy-specific modified ISTH DIC score (>26) in patients with liver hematoma or rupture was associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes and appeared to perform well in distinguishing high and low-risk cases. Postpartum preeclampsia may be associated with severe features and a more complicated disease course.