Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the maternal and fetal survival in all cases of acute fatty liver of pregnancy seen by the Division of Gastroenterology at Grace Maternity Hospital and the Victoria General Hospital from 1979-91.DESIGN: A retrospective review of the clinical data obtained from the medical charts of 13 patients with a liver biopsy-based histopathological diagnosis of acute fatty liver of pregnancy.SETTING: Grace Maternity Hospital, a tertiary care centre serving d1e Atlantic provinces. Twelve patients were subsequently transferred to Victoria General Hospital for postpartum management in the setting of the medical intensive care unit.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Classically, acute fatty liver of pregnancy is complicated by over 70% maternal and fetal mortality rate. Recent reports have indicated significantly improved maternal and fetal survival because of more awareness, improved management and the identification of milder forms of the disease.RESULTS: In this study of 13 cases of acute fatty liver of pregnancy, maternal survival was 100% and fetal survival was 93%.CONCLUSION: The excellent maternal and fetal survival in this series is attributed co awareness, close collaboration between obstetricians and gastroenterologists, prompt diagnosis and delivery and the management of postpartum patients in an intensive care unit setting.