Second-trimester acute fatty liver disease of pregnancy: A brief review of the literature and a case report.

Abstract

Acute fatty liver disease of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare life-threatening medical emergency unique to pregnancy. It is characterized by progressive microvesicular fatty infiltration of maternal hepatocytes, but the exact etiology has yet to be elucidated. AFLP typically manifests in late third trimester or immediately postpartum and seldom during second trimester. Prompt delivery, irrespective of gestational age or severity, is crucial for arresting the insult and permitting recovery. We hereby report a 21-year-old Lebanese second-gravid woman at 20 weeks' gestation diagnosed with AFLP depending on clinical features and compatible laboratory studies (score of 8 on Swansea criteria), in spite of early occurrence. A review and analysis of early AFLP (second trimester) compared to late (third trimester) was also presented. AFLP appearing during second trimester is as serious as the disease manifesting in late third trimester, with similar diagnostic difficulties, less association with hypertension, but with greater hesitation of obstetricians to affect prompt delivery and higher adverse perinatal outcome due to added effect of premature delivery in second trimester.