Liver Disease of Pregnancy: Clinical Aspects

The development of liver injury during pregnancy is unusual and occurs in less than 0.2% of cases. Jaundice develops in only 1 in 1500 pregnancies.1 Liver injury can occur as a consequence of or coincident with pregnancy (Table I) developing in any trimester or even postpartum, depending on its etiology (Table II). The most common cause of liver injury in the pregnant patient is acute viral hepatitis accounting for up to 40% of cases. An enterically transmitted form of non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis has recently been observed that may cause an increased mortality rate in pregnant women. To date, it has only been observed in patients in or from developing countries. In some areas, such as Scandinavia or Chile, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy occurs with high frequency and may account for 10–20% of jaundice during pregnancy. Other forms of liver injury are unusual during pregnancy.