Diagnosis of early acute fatty liver of pregnancy

L Schapiro1, J M Thorp

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7570, USA.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is usually diagnosed at autopsy, with severe hepatic failure, or after the appearance of extrahepatic disease. We present an atypical patient with mild AFLP in whom hepatic biopsy allowed earlier diagnosis. A low threshold for liver biopsy in patients not experiencing fulminant disease can afford diagnostic information prior to the onset of serious sequelae.