Factors and a model to predict three-month mortality in patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy from two medical centers.

BACKGROUND: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication. Lacking of prognostic factors and models renders prediction of outcomes difficult. This study aims to explore factors and develop a prognostic model to predict three-month mortality of AFLP. METHODS: This retrospective study included 78 consecutive patients fulfilling both clinical and laboratory criteria and Swansea criteria for diagnosis of AFLP. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were used to identify predictive factors of mortality. Predictive efficacy of prognostic index for AFLP (PI-AFLP) was compared with the other four liver disease models using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: AFLP-related three-month mortality of two medical centers was 14.10% (11/78). International normalised ratio (INR, hazard ratio [HR] = 3.446; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.324-8.970), total bilirubin (TBIL, HR = 1.005; 95% CI, 1.000-1.010), creatine (Scr, HR = 1.007; 95% CI, 1.001-1.013), low platelet (PLT, HR = 0.964; 95% CI, 0.931-0.997) at 72 h postpartum were confirmed as significant predictors of mortality. Artificial liver support (ALS, HR = 0.123; 95% CI, 0.012-1.254) was confirmed as an effective measure to improve severe patients' prognosis. Predictive accuracy of PI-AFLP was 0.874. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of liver disease models for end-stage liver disease (MELD), MELD-Na, integrated MELD (iMELD) and pregnancy-specific liver disease (PSLD) were 0.781, 0.774, 0.744 and 0.643, respectively. CONCLUSION: TBIL, INR, Scr and PLT at 72 h postpartum are significant predictors of three-month mortality in AFLP patients. ALS is an effective measure to improve severe patients' prognosis. PI-AFLP calculated by TBIL, INR, Scr, PLT and ALS was a sensitive and specific model to predict mortality of AFLP.

Pregnancy-Associated Liver Diseases.

The liver disorders unique to pregnancy include hyperemesis gravidarum, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, and preeclampsia-associated hepatic impairment, specifically hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome (HELLP). Their importance lies in the significant maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality. Expeditious diagnosis and clinical evaluation is critical to ensure timely, appropriate care and minimize risks to the pregnant woman and her fetus/baby. A multidisciplinary approach is essential, including midwives, maternal-fetal-medicine specialists, anesthetists, neonatologists, and hepatologists.

The assessment in patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) treated with plasma exchange: a cohort study of 298 patients.

BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence, risk factors, clinical characteristics of Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) patients, and outcomes of AFLP patients treated with plasma exchange (PE). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the AFLP patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2012 to May 2022. Final prediction model for death among AFLP by means of stepwise backward elimination with p value < 0.05. Patients treated with and without PE were compared by propensity-matched cohort study. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety eight patients with the diagnosis of AFLP, and finally 290 patients were enrolled in the cohort study, 50 of whom (17.2%) were dead. Compared with AFLP patients alive, the dead of patients were more likely to be combined encephalopathy (p < 0.01), postpartum hemorrhage (p < 0.01), and found significantly higher frequency of fetal distress (p = 0.04), fetal death (p < 0.01). we developed a predicted probability value and with an area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of 0.94 (95%CI 0.87 to 1.00), indicating AFLP patients' death. The patients treated with PE had a significantly lower 60-day mortality rate (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.29 to 2.64, p = 0.04), and significantly shorter duration of hospital-free days at day 28 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study indicated that liver function were risk factors for maternal mortality, and PE was a protective factor for maternal 60-day mortality and hospital-free days at day 28 in AFLP patients.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy causing multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in a Chinese intensive care unit.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare but severe condition associated with high rates of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Timely discontinuation of pregnancy, professional supervision and appropriate management are helpful for a successful discharge. This article reports the presentation and nursing care of a pregnant woman who was diagnosed with AFLP and discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) after a prolonged hospitalization. The patient was admitted to the ICU on the first day after a caesarean section, with deterioration of liver, kidney and coagulation function. On day 1 of ICU admission, she underwent transnasal high-flow oxygen therapy. Owing to worsening respiratory status and oxygen saturation <85%, the patient was intubated on day 3 in the ICU. Her urine output decreased significantly, her bilirubin level progressively increased, and she was treated with bilirubin adsorption and haemodialysis. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome occurred, along with many other complications, including subarachnoid haemorrhage and lower extremity venous thrombosis. The patient was finally extubated on day 7, and haemodialysis was discontinued on day 42, with a daily urine output of approximately 2000 mL. The patient was discharged from the ICU 43 days after admission. Treatment and care activities under qualified nursing care, including managing haemorrhage and anticoagulation in haemodialysis, pain care based on psychological support, early rehabilitation and nutrition and providing appropriate care for respiratory support, contributed to the successful discharge of the patient from the ICU. During the patient's 43-day stay in the ICU, strict monitoring and personalized nursing care were implemented.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy.

The liver is one of the richest organs in mitochondria, serving as a hub for key metabolic pathways such as ß-oxidation, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, ketogenesis, respiratory activity, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, all of which provide metabolic energy for the entire body. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to subcellular organelle dysfunction in liver diseases, particularly fatty liver disease. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a life-threatening liver disorder unique to pregnancy, which can result in serious maternal and fetal complications, including death. Pregnant mothers with this disease require early detection, prompt delivery, and supportive maternal care. AFLP was considered a mysterious illness and though its pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, molecular research over the past two decades has linked AFLP to mitochondrial dysfunction and defects in fetal fatty-acid oxidation (FAO). Due to deficient placental and fetal FAO, harmful 3-hydroxy fatty acid metabolites accumulate in the maternal circulation, causing oxidative stress and microvesicular fatty infiltration of the liver, resulting in AFLP. In this review, we provide an overview of AFLP and mitochondrial FAO followed by discussion of how altered mitochondrial function plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AFLP.

Liver Biopsy in Pregnancy: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature.

The etiology of most cases of liver diseases in pregnancy can be diagnosed with a thorough history, physical examination, laboratory values, serology, and noninvasive imaging. However, atypical clinical and laboratory presentations of liver diseases/chemistries require a liver biopsy to render an accurate diagnosis in cases where the biopsy results affect the timing of delivery or impact choice of medical therapy. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, liver biopsy can be effectively and safely conducted in pregnant women. Conventional routes of performing a liver biopsy include the percutaneous, transjugular route, and surgical methods. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy is a recent technique that has not yet gained widespread adoption but can potentially serve as an alternative route for obtaining the liver sample. Adverse events associated with liver biopsy include abdominal pain and hemorrhage. Maternal and fetal outcomes are limited to increased risk of preterm birth and small for gestational age neonate. However, very few studies have formally evaluated the safety of liver biopsy in pregnant women. In this review, we present two successful cases of liver biopsy performed during pregnancy and summarize the most recent evidence regarding the safety and outcomes of the procedure in pregnancy to assist clinicians in their decision to perform a liver biopsy during pregnancy or postpone it until after delivery.

Analysis of clinical characteristics and genetic testing in patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is an acute, rare and potentially lethal disease typically occurring in the third trimester of pregnancy. So far, there is no effective means of prevention. Therefore, in this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of AFLP patients for a better understanding. Meanwhile, for the first time, the genetic background associated with the onset of AFLP was discussed by high-throughput sequencing, hoping to provide evidence for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis of AFLP. METHODS: Thirteen AFLP patients admitted to our hospital and other hospital from March 2012 to February 2020 were selected. Clinical data about general condition, laboratory test, liver biopsy and the prognosis of mother and fetus were collected for retrospective analysis. In addition, the peripheral blood of five patients with AFLP and one newborn infant of his mother with AFLP was sequenced with whole-exome sequencing and gene mutation was analyzed by bioinformatics methods. RESULTS: The initial symptoms of AFLP varied differently, with jaundice (9/13, 69%), fatigue (8/13, 62%) and nausea and vomiting (6/13, 46%) being the most common. Moreover, the main maternal complications were coagulopathy (13/13, 100%), followed by acute renal dysfunction (10/13, 77%). Raised serum bilirubin, transaminases and uric acid were found in all patients (100%), hypoglycemia was found in six patients (46%) and fatty liver on ultrasound was seen in five patients (5/12, 42%). One (7%) maternal death occurred and all neonates survived delivery. In addition, to our surprise, whole-exome sequencing showed that no gene mutation in related enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism was noted in the pregnant women and children receiving genetic testing. CONCLUSIONS: Early visit, early detection, early termination of pregnancy and multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment are the key factors to improve the prognosis of AFLP patients and their newborn infants. Furthermore, although limited size of study, to our knowledge, this report is the first to present the lack of common mutation involved in fatty acid oxidation in Chinese patients with AFLP via whole-exome sequencing. Thus, further studies are needed with larger and more varied samples to validate the conclusion.

Comparison of maternal and neonatal outcomes between acute fatty liver of pregnancy and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets syndrome: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome are two uncommon disorders that mimic each other clinically, but are distinct pathophysiologically. This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between AFLP and HELLP syndrome. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary referral center in Taiwan between June 2004 and April 2020. We used the Swansea Criteria to diagnose AFLP, and the Tennessee Classification System to diagnose HELLP syndrome. Maternal characteristics, laboratory data, complications, and neonatal outcomes were compared. We analyzed the categorical variables with Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and continuous variables with Student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Subsequent logistic regression analyses adjusting by potential confounding factors with significant difference were analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period, 21 women had AFLP and 80 women had HELLP syndrome. There was a higher rate of preeclampsia (95.0 % versus 23.8 %) in the HELLP syndrome group compared to the AFLP group. However, the AFLP group had more other maternal complications including jaundice (85.7 % versus 13.8 %), acute kidney injury (61.9 % versus 15.0 %), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (66.7 % versus 8.8 %), and sepsis (47.6 % versus 10.0 %) compared to the HELLP syndrome group. Nevertheless, higher rates of small for gestational age neonates (57.1 % versus 33.3 %), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (39.2 % versus 8.3 %) and neonatal sepsis (34.2 % versus 12.5 %) were noted in the HELLP syndrome group. CONCLUSIONS: AFLP is associated with a higher rate of multiple organ dysfunction in mothers, whereas HELLP syndrome is associated with a higher rate of neonatal morbidity.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy at 19 weeks and 0 days of gestation after prolonged hyperemesis gravidarum.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare disorder that typically develops in the third trimester. We successfully diagnosed and treated a case of AFLP that developed at 18 weeks' gestation. A 34-year-old woman-gravida 4, para 3-presented with continuous vomiting and abdominal pain and developed convulsive seizures and lost consciousness after transfusion therapy. Cerebral apoplexy was excluded by computed tomography of the brain. Blood tests revealed severe metabolic acidosis, coagulopathy, and leukocytosis, followed by severe hypoglycemia and elevated levels of transaminases and ammonia. The fetus was delivered dead. Whole-body computed tomography showed fatty liver. The patient was diagnosed with AFLP based on the Swansea criteria. AFLP may be a differential diagnosis in the second trimester, and rapid termination should be considered as radical treatment. Starvation may be a risk factor for this disorder.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy - A short review.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare but dramatic condition associated with a high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We present a short review of AFLP management, illustrated by a case report. We conducted a systematic literature search for 'acute fatty liver of pregnancy', concerning its management. We found initially 11 studies, and three of them met the selection criteria. Prompt diagnosis, maternal stabilisation and rapid delivery are mandatory. This illustrative AFLP case fulfilled nine out of 14 Swansea criteria. Caesarean section is often required (as illustrated in this case), reducing maternal and perinatal mortality rates.

[Early-stage clinical features, diagnosis and treatment progress of pregnancy-related liver disease].

Pregnancy-related liver disease is a group of severe diseases that usually resulting in worsening clinical outcome in pregnant women and fetuses. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment at early-stage are essential. This paper reviews the early-stage clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment key points of common pregnancy-related liver diseases such as hyperemesis gravidarum, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet syndrome, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy, in order to help clinicians, improve their understanding of pregnancy-related liver disease.

Liver Diseases in the Parturient.

Sundaram S, Giri S. Liver Diseases in the Parturient. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(Suppl 3):S248-S254.

Liver disease in pregnancy.

Development of liver diseases during pregnancy is not uncommon. They are caused by either a disorder that is unique to pregnancy or an acute or chronic liver disease that already exists or coincidentally develops as a comorbidity of pregnancy. Liver diseases unique to pregnancy include hyperemesis gravidarum; hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia/eclampsia; hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome; intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy; and acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Chronic liver diseases that affect pregnancy, or are affected by pregnancy, mainly include autoimmune liver diseases and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Prompt diagnosis and management of liver diseases in pregnancy, while very challenging, is extremely important, as they might cause adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Therefore, a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach involving both hepatologists and obstetricians is required. In this review article, the up-to-date epidemiology, etiology, clinical features, and outcomes of liver diseases in pregnancy are discussed, to promote a deeper understanding among physicians, and subsequently improved outcomes.

Potential predictors for prognosis and postpartum recovery time of acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a potentially lethal condition of pregnant women with a high mortality rate. Potential predictors related to postpartum recovery time and prognostic factors of AFLP are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate potential predictors for prognosis and postpartum recovery time of AFLP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 76 AFLP patients in our hospital from 2002 to 2017 and investigated potential predictors using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) was found to be associated with prognosis in AFLP patients (P = 0.005, OR = 26.844). The postpartum recovery time analysis showed that AFLP patients with a age < 25 had the shortest recovery time, but no significant difference (P = 0.134, OR = 5.952). The postpartum recovery time of patients with liver failure (LF) was significantly prolonged compared to those without LF (P = 0.036, OR = 10.052). Cryoprecipitate, and plasma infusion showed no significant effect on prognosis or recovery time. Artificial liver support therapy (ALST) had no effect on prognosis, but it might affect postpartum recovery time with no statistical significance (P = 0.128, OR = 5.470). CONCLUSION: HE is a potential predictor for prognosis of AFLP. LF is a potential predictor for postpartum recovery time.

Pregnancy outcomes of patients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exists regarding the pregnancy and infant outcomes of Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP). METHODS: Retrospectively collected mothers with AFLP and mothers without AFLP in our center from 1/2008 to 6/2018. The primary assessment was to analyze and compare the frequency of negative maternal and fetal outcomes. The secondary assessment was to investigate the role of intrauterine balloon tamponade in reducing negative maternal outcomes. RESULTS: Compared to 220 matched mothers, 55 AFLP mothers were younger (P < 0.001), with fewer pregnancies (P = 0.033), complicated with more pregnancy induced hypertension (P < 0.001), twins(P = 0.002), fetal growth restriction (P = 0.044) and male fetus (P < 0.001). 3 (5.5%) of AFLP patients were diagnosed in the postpartum period. Mean gestational week of AFLP diagnosis was 35.25 ± 5.80 weeks. Jaundice (89.1%), nausea or vomiting (58.2%), anorexia (49.1%), fatigue (45.5%) and polydipsia (30.9%) were the main prodromal symptoms. The median duration from diagnosis to delivery was 1.55 ± 4.62 days and 75% (39/52) pregnancy were terminated the pregnancy at the day of diagnosis. 78.8% (41/52) patients received cesarean section, 53.6% (22/41) of which received preventive plasma transfusion before surgery and no one received artificial liver support during the treatment. In comparison, higher frequency of 16 maternal complications, severe negative outcomes (27.3% vs. 0.9%) and newborn asphyxia (24.6% vs.0.9%) were observed in AFLP population. 3 mothers (mortality rates: 5.5%) died of multiple organ system failure and 6 fetus/infants (death rates: 9.8%) died of distress. When compared to those without negative outcomes, patients with negative fetal outcomes were younger (P = 0.042), had more singleton rates (p = 0.041), increased mean value of ALT(P = 0.011) and T-Bilirubin (P = 0.014), decreased prothrombin activity (P = 0.011). Although no statistical significance for the small sample size, there were less refractory postpartum hemorrhage (0% vs.31.3%), hysterectomy (0% vs.12.5%), negative maternal outcomes (16.7% vs.56.3%) in patients underwent intrauterine balloon tamponade when postpartum hemorrhage exceeded 500 ml. CONCLUSIONS: Several symptoms were found to be the main prodromal symptoms of AFLP. Higher frequency of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes was observed in mothers with AFLP than mothers without AFLP. We found five potential risk factors of negative fetal outcomes.

Early diagnostic test for acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a retrospective case control study.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis is important to lower the mortality rate of acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). The Swansea criteria is commonly used to diagnose AFLP, but some terms could only be reached when symptoms and signs have progressed, or are not efficient in clinical practice. Therefore, it is necessary to select cost effective tests to simplify and facilitate early suspicion of acute fatty liver of pregnancy. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 28,800 medical records at the Second Xiangya Hospital from 2009 to 2015, including 41 patients with AFLP and 172 other diseases that could show similar symptoms to AFLP. The evaluated variables included past history of liver diseases, blood pressure, gastrointestinal symptoms, blood count, liver function test, coagulation function test and blood sugar test. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predict value and negative predict value were calculated for models in diagnosing AFLP. RESULTS: The significant variables associated with AFLP included gastrointestinal symptoms, blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg, aminotransferase> 42 IU/l, total bilirubin> 0.8 mg/dl, total bilirubin acid> 10.0 µmol/L, activated partial prothrombin time(APTT) > 34 s, prothrombin time(PT) > 14 s, white blood cells> 11 *106/l and blood sugar< 72 mg/dl. Gastrointestinal symptoms +aminotransferase +bilirubin +bile acid +APTT/PT showed 97.6% sensitivity and 97.1% specificity to diagnose AFLP. Adding blood pressure, blood sugar or white blood cells decreased the accuracy of the statistical model. CONCLUSIONS: Application of a statistical model including maternal symptoms, biochemical and haematological parameters has high diagnostic accuracy for earlier identification of AFLP. However, this finding needs to be tested in another cohort to determine whether this statistical model has the same performance.

Thrombotic microangiopathy and pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to draw attention to a nosological unit called thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). This syndrome represents a serious pathological condition characterized by microangiopathic haemolytic anemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia and various organ dysfunction. Patients are most often presented with symptoms of the HELLP syndrome but if the clinical picture is not restituted within 48-72 hours after delivery, other TMAs should be considered. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1st Medical Faculty and General Teaching Hospital Prague; Clinic of Nephrology, 1st Medical Faculty and General Teaching Hospital Prague; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Regional Hospital Kolín. DESIGN: Review article and case reports. METHODS: Review of the literature and description of two cases of TMA. CONCLUSION: The authors present a basic overview of the issue of TMA, which requires interdisciplinary cooperation of obstetricians, anesthesiologists, nephrologists and hematologists. In the second part of the article, we present two TMA case reports and finally show the differential diagnostic and therapeutic scheme as agreed by the authorities in the field.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare, catastrophic disease affecting women in the third trimester of pregnancy or in the post-partum period. It is usually a diagnosis of exclusion and requires a strong index of suspicion for a timely diagnosis and prompt intervention. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of AM, an 18 year patient, in her first pregnancy at 35 weeks gestation who presented with nausea, vomiting and jaundice. She had a vaginal delivery following spontaneous preterm labour. A clinical diagnosis of acute fatty liver of pregnancy was made on the 3rd day post-delivery. The post-delivery course was complicated by a deterioration of clinical symptoms with worsening hepatorenal function and development of encephalopathy. The patient died 3 days after admission and the diagnosis was confirmed on post-mortem and histology. CONCLUSION: Delay in the diagnosis is associated with morbid complications with high mortality and this case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion of the condition in women presenting with jaundice in pregnancy.

Liver disease in pregnancy: Medical aspects and their implications for mother and child.

Liver disease during pregnancy is more common than expected and may require specialized intervention. It is important to determine if changes in liver physiology may develop into liver disease, to assure early diagnosis. For adequate surveillance of mother-fetus health outcome, liver disease during pregnancy might require intervention from a hepatologist. Liver diseases have a prevalence of at least 3% of all pregnancies in developed countries, and they are classified into two main categories: related to pregnancy; and those non- related that are present de novo or are preexisting chronic liver diseases. In this review we describe and discuss the main characteristics of those liver diseases associated with pregnancy and only some frequent pre-existing and co-incidental in pregnancy are considered. In addition to the literature review, we compiled the data of liver disease occurring during pregnancies attended at the National Institute of Perinatology in Mexico City in a three-year period. In our tertiary referral women hospital, liver disease was present in 11.24 % of all pregnancies. Associated liver disease was found in 10.8% of all pregnancies, mainly those related to pre-eclampsia (9.9% of pregnancies). Only 0.56% was due to liver disease that was co-incidental or preexisting; the acute or chronic hepatitis C virus was the most frequent in this group (0.12%). When managing pregnancy in referral hospitals in Latin America, it is important to discard liver alterations early for adequate follow up of the disease and to prevent adverse consequences for the mother and child.

Markedly higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in a woman with acute fatty liver of pregnancy compared with HELLP syndrome.

AIM: To compare serum levels of angiogenesis-related factors between 14 women with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome and a woman with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). METHODS: Serum samples were collected in 2004-2008 and 2013-2016. The levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured by an automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay using Elecsys sFlt-1 and Elecsys PlGF. After logarithmic transformation, levels of sFlt-1, PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in a woman with AFLP were compared with those in women with HELLP syndrome, using the one-sample t-test. RESULTS: At 37 weeks of gestation, a patient was diagnosed with AFLP based on Swansea criteria (showing six features including elevated transaminases), and she also showed a duodenal ulcer with active bleeding, thrombocytopenia and hypertension. Her serum levels of sFlt-1 and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were significantly higher than in those with HELLP syndrome (273 040 pg/mL vs 15 135 [mean], P < 0.001; 4236 vs 224, P < 0.001; respectively). However, her serum level of PlGF was not significantly different from those with HELLP syndrome. CONCLUSION: Serum levels of sFlt-1 and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, but not PlGF, in a woman with AFLP were markedly higher than those in women with HELLP syndrome. AFLP may be a different clinical entity from HELLP syndrome based on angiogenesis-related factors. Clinically, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio may be used to rapidly distinguish AFLP from HELLP syndrome.