Liver Diseases Associated with Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of great maternal physiological and metabolic changes. Pregnancy-related liver disease is the most frequent cause of liver dysfunction in pregnancy and provides a real threat to fetal and maternal survival. Liver diseases associated with pregnancy include hyperemesis gravidarum, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, preeclampsia and eclampsia, hemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL) and a low platelet count (LP) (HELLP) syndrome and acute fatty liver of pregnancy. A rapid diagnosis differentiating between liver disease related and unrelated to pregnancy is required in women who present with liver dysfunction during pregnancy. This review summarizes the incidence, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of liver diseases unique to pregnancy.