Comparison of serum lipid concentration in acute fatty liver of pregnancy and HELLP syndrome

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) and HELLP syndrome occur almost always in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, and both of them present with similar clinical features causing maternal multisystem organ failure. The aim of this study was to clinically differentiate between AFLP and HELLP syndrome without liver biopsy. We observed 3 cases of AFLP and 5 cases of HELLP syndrome over the last 5 years, and all were reviewed retrospectively. Total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in patients with AFLP than in patients with HELLP syndrome. There were no other remarkable differences in chemistry and hematology between AFLP and HELLP syndrome except for serum lipid values. It is suggested that the lower total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients with AFLP may be crucial to differentiate between AFLP and HELLP syndrome.