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Differentiation of acute fatty liver of pregnancy from syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet counts.

Abstract
As proposed criteria (Swansea criteria) for the diagnosis of acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) do not include antithrombin (AT) activity, diagnosis of AFLP may be delayed. The aim of this review is to underscore problems in the differential diagnosis of AFLP and the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet counts (HELLP syndrome) and to facilitate prompt diagnosis of AFLP. Published works dealing with liver dysfunction in pregnancy, HELLP syndrome and AFLP were reviewed. AFLP and HELLP syndrome shared common clinical, laboratory, histological and genetic features, and differential diagnosis between them was often difficult. However, HELLP syndrome was likely to occur in patients with hypertension, but AFLP occurred often in the absence of hypertension. In addition, AFLP was exclusively associated with pregnancy-induced antithrombin deficiency (PIATD). Approximately 50% of patients with AFLP did not have thrombocytopenia at presentation. As the Swansea criteria for AFLP did not include PIATD, diagnosis of AFLP was delayed until manifestation of life-threatening complications; 60% of women were admitted to intensive care and 15% to a specialist liver unit. In conclusion, incorporation of AT activity of less than 65% into the diagnostic criteria for AFLP may facilitate suspicion and prompt diagnosis of AFLP, decrease uncertainty regarding the diagnosis of AFLP, and contribute to better investigation and understanding of the process leading to the development of liver dysfunction.
AuthorsHisanori Minakami, Mamoru Morikawa, Takahiro Yamada, Takashi Yamada, Rina Akaishi, Ryutaro Nishida
JournalThe journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research (J Obstet Gynaecol Res) Vol. 40 Issue 3 Pg. 641-9 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1447-0756 [Electronic] Australia
PMID24428400 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
Copyright© 2014 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2014 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Chemical References
  • Antithrombin Proteins
Topics
  • Antithrombin Proteins (analysis, deficiency)
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatty Liver (blood, diagnosis, epidemiology, physiopathology)
  • Female
  • HELLP Syndrome (blood, diagnosis, epidemiology, physiopathology)
  • Humans
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications (blood, diagnosis, epidemiology, physiopathology)
  • Risk

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