Journal Basic Info
- Impact Factor: 1.809**
- H-Index: 6
- ISSN: 2474-1655
- DOI: 10.25107/2474-1655
Major Scope
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Disease
- Nuclear Medicine
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Renal Disease
- Surgery Cases
- Dentistry and Oral Biology
- Radiology Cases
Abstract
Citation: Ann Clin Case Rep. 2017;2(1):1426.DOI: 10.25107/2474-1655.1426
Pregnancy in Patients with Established Liver Cirrhosis – An Uncommon but High-Risk Situation
Marcus Robertson, Andrew Bathgate and Peter Hayes
Department of Hepatology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Department of Gastroenterology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
*Correspondance to: Marcus Robertson
PDF Full Text Case Report | Open Access
Abstract:
Pregnancy is uncommon in females with liver cirrhosis but represents a complicated and highrisk clinical situation. Cirrhosis and portal hypertension may significantly worsen during pregnancy placing both the mother and foetus at risk of serious adverse events. In women with pre-existing portal hypertension, 30% - 64% will suffer from liver-related complications during or after pregnancy, most commonly manifesting as either variceal haemorrhage or hepatic decompensation, with maternal mortality rates of 1.8% - 7.8%. The MELD score is the only risk stratification tool validated to accurately predict liver-related complications during pregnancy, with a pre-conception MELD score ≥10 indicating a very high-risk of serious liver-related complications. Management necessitates a multidisciplinary approach including a maternal-foetal medicine specialist, hepatologist, neonatologist and anaesthetist. All patients require endoscopy (either before pregnancy or in the second trimester) to assess for the development of varices.
Keywords:
Cirrhosis; Portal hypertension; Pregnancy; Varices; Variceal bleeding
Cite the Article:
Robertson M, Bathgate A, Hayes P. Pregnancy in Patients with Established Liver Cirrhosis � An Uncommon but High-Risk Situation. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2017; 2: 1426.