Background and aim
Liver diseases during pregnancy, whether related or not to pregnancy, represent a challenge in their diagnosis and management. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of different liver diseases that affect pregnant women in our locality and their impact on the outcomes of pregnancy. It also aims to study the effect of pregnancy termination on the patients’ laboratory parameters.
Patients and methods
In total, 344 pregnant women with abnormal liver functions were included in this study. All study participants underwent the routine clinical and laboratory evaluation to diagnose the cause of their hepatic dysfunction. They were followed up until 1 week after delivery to record the maternal and fetal outcomes.
Results
The most common diseases related to pregnancy were the hypertensive disorders (43.9%). Chronic viral hepatitis was the most common disease not related to pregnancy (38.9%). Most cases (69.1 and 44.1%) had good maternal as well as fetal outcome successively. The frequencies of maternal mortality and fetal loss were 4.1 and 17.1% successively.
Conclusion
Pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders and chronic viral hepatitis were the most common causes of liver diseases among pregnant women. Most cases showed favorable fetal and maternal outcome.