Acute fatty liver of pregnancy mimicking puerperal sepsis: Report of a case with literature review

Abstract

Puerperal pyrexia is defined as fever in a woman within 6 weeks of giving birth, which is ≥38°C. We describe the clinical scenario of fever and progressive jaundice in a 32-year-old female in the postpartum period. The laboratory data showed normal leukocytic counts and all her septic screen was noncontributory. While in the hospital, her bilirubin levels progressively increased and showed a mild elevation of liver enzymes. There was no evidence of biliary obstruction. A liver biopsy clinched the diagnosis of acute fatty liver. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. It typically presents in the third trimester and can lead to multi-organ failure and death. This report highlights the importance of liver biopsy and an atypical presentation of fatty liver of pregnancy.

Liver diseases among Arab world, current state and unmet needs, a scoping review

“…Nearly 25% of these papers were just reported cases of unique liver diseases in pregnancy like Fatty liver of pregnancy which was the most reported case in different countries; Tunisia (232), Oman (233), KSA (234), Jordan (235), Lebanon (236) and Morocco (237,238). Tunisia published a retrospective study in this life threating condition over 10 year period (239).…”