Question:medium
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is commonly seen at which stage of pregnancy?
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is commonly seen at which stage of pregnancy?
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Liver disorders unique to pregnancy (AFLP, HELLP) cluster near term.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- 3rd trimester
- 1st trimester
- Immediate postpartum
- Intrapartum
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: AFLP is one of the liver-specific disorders unique to late pregnancy. The key timing clue is that it clusters near term. Step 2: The expected answer is the third trimester, because microvesicular fat deposition in hepatocytes overwhelms maternal liver function as metabolic demand peaks late in gestation. Step 3: Pathophysiology: a deficiency in the fetal long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase enzyme causes toxic long-chain fatty acid intermediates to cross into the maternal circulation and injure her liver. Step 4: Recognised risk factors are a male baby, first pregnancy, and twin pregnancy. First trimester onset is not seen, and intrapartum is not the typical presentation, which rules out the other options. \[\boxed{\text{3rd trimester}}\]
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