Korean J Leg Med.  2017 Nov;41(4):141-144. 10.7580/kjlm.2017.41.4.141.

Maternal Death due to Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Medical Examiner's Office, National Forensic Service, Wonju, Korea. zzeva@korea.kr

Abstract

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is one of the sudden unexpected causes in pregnancy and maternal deaths. It has been considered as a potential fatal disease in pregnancy, but the postmortem findings of AFLP is not well known. Because an unexpected maternal death may lead to a legal dispute, forensic pathologists should be aware of clinical presentations and postmortem findings of AFLP. Therefore, we presented our case and reviewed with literatures.

Keyword

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy; Maternal death; Forensic pathology; Autopsy

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Dissent and Disputes
Fatty Liver*
Forensic Pathology
Maternal Death*
Pregnancy*

Figure

  • Fig. 1. The cut surface of the liver reveals yellow tan.

  • Fig. 2. Macrovesicular and microvesicular fatty changes are identified in liver (H&E, ×200).


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