Presumed acute fatty liver of pregnancy following influenza A hepatitis

Abstract

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare mitochondrial hepatopathy characterised by microvesicular fatty infiltration, and is believed to be due to impaired fatty acid oxidation. Hepatitis following influenza virus infection is uncommon. Rarely influenza virus infection may be complicated by Reye's syndrome, another hepatic microvesicular fat disease. A case of influenza A hepatitis in third trimester of pregnancy, followed by the evelopment of presumed acute fatty liver of pregnancy is described in this report and a potential mechanism why this may have occurred is discussed.