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Obstetric Acute Yellow Atrophy
Author(s) -
Giles P. F. H.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1967.tb02478.x
Subject(s) - acute fatty liver of pregnancy , atrophy , medicine , pregnancy , liver failure , acute hepatitis , eclampsia , fetus , obstetrics , hepatitis , pediatrics , surgery , genetics , biology
Acute liver failure in pregnancy is rare. Mother and foetus usually die whether liver failure is due to acute viral hepatitis, hepa‐totoxic agents, eclampsia, or whether it is due to “obstetric acute yellow atrophy” in which there is no necrosis but a gross fatty change in the liver. Moore (1956) suggested the term “acute fatty liver of pregnancy” for this unusual appearance. It was, however, Sheehan in 1940 who first recognized “obstetric acute yellow atrophy” as a distinct clinical entity and since then just over 40 cases have been reported. SUMMARY The case history of a patient who died from obstetric acute yellow atrophy is presented and discussed.