Pregnancy and the Liver....ALF page

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diseases that can affect pregnant women and their babies?

In addition to the diseases mentioned, women with less common diseases, such

as primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and alcoholic

liver disease, among others, may consider pregnancy. In general, women in

which liver disease has produced severe liver damage (particularly cirrhosis

or serious liver dysfunction) are less fertile. These women and their babies

are at higher risk of complications during pregnancy. In addition, three rare

liver disorders may have serious consequences for pregnant women and their

babies. They are intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (impaired bile flow),

toxemia-related disease with the HELLP syndrome, and acute fatty liver of

pregnancy.

What is toxemia (pre-eclampsia) and how does it affect the liver?

Toxemia (or pre-eclampsia) is a fairly common disorder that occurs late in

pregnancy and includes high blood pressure, kidney dysfunction, and the

development of leg swelling or edema. In approximately 10% of women with

pre-eclampsia, the liver is also affected, with development of blood clots

and bleeding into the liver. In mild cases liver function remains normal,

although liver blood tests may be abnormal. In severe cases large parts of

the liver may be damaged or destroyed, leading to symptoms similar to severe

viral hepatitis. In extremely severe cases there may be major bleeding into

parts of the liver or abdomen, a life-threatening situation.

<A HREF= " http://gi.ucsf.edu/alf/info/pregnant.html " >Pregnancy and the

Liver</A> http://gi.ucsf.edu/alf/info/pregnant.html