Fatty liver in pregnancy may increase risk of preterm birth
Women with fatty liver disease while pregnant are at a higher risk of having a preterm birth. ()
Pregnant women with a common form of fatty liver disease are more likely to deliver their babies early, according to a new Swedish study.
The research, from Karolinska Institutet and published in eClinicalMedicine, found that this increased risk is not just because of obesity.
The condition, known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is a common disease globally. It's closely linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes and excess weight and is becoming more common among women of childbearing age.
Using Sweden's registry data, researchers looked at 240 births from women with MASLD and compared them with 1,140 births from women in the general population.
They found that women with MASLD were over three times more likely to have a premature birth. Importantly, this risk remained even when comparing them with overweight or obese women who did not have liver disease.
"This shows that it's not just about a high BMI (body mass index) the liver disease itself seems to play a role," said Carole A. Marxer, the lead researcher.
She added that pregnant women with the liver disease should be closely monitored to reduce the chance of complications, and current medical guidelines may need to be updated to reflect this risk.
The study also found that women with MASLD had a 63% higher chance of undergoing a caesarean section, though this appears to be mainly due to higher BMI levels.
On a positive note, the researchers did not find any increased risk of birth defects or stillbirths in babies born to mothers with MASLD.
Despite carefully accounting for other health factors, the researchers note that some unmeasured influences could still have affected the results.
Pregnant women with a common form of fatty liver disease are more likely to deliver their babies early, according to a new Swedish study.
The research, from Karolinska Institutet and published in eClinicalMedicine, found that this increased risk is not just because of obesity.
The condition, known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is a common disease globally. It's closely linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes and excess weight and is becoming more common among women of childbearing age.
Using Sweden's registry data, researchers looked at 240 births from women with MASLD and compared them with 1,140 births from women in the general population.
They found that women with MASLD were over three times more likely to have a premature birth. Importantly, this risk remained even when comparing them with overweight or obese women who did not have liver disease.
"This shows that it's not just about a high BMI (body mass index) the liver disease itself seems to play a role," said Carole A. Marxer, the lead researcher.
She added that pregnant women with the liver disease should be closely monitored to reduce the chance of complications, and current medical guidelines may need to be updated to reflect this risk.
The study also found that women with MASLD had a 63% higher chance of undergoing a caesarean section, though this appears to be mainly due to higher BMI levels.
On a positive note, the researchers did not find any increased risk of birth defects or stillbirths in babies born to mothers with MASLD.
Despite carefully accounting for other health factors, the researchers note that some unmeasured influences could still have affected the results. Join our WhatsApp Channel
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While many patients only develop the earliest and less severe stage known as simple fatty liver, the disease can progress without symptoms and cause serious damage over the aggressive form of the disease, is associated with inflammation and can lead to fibrosis, or scarring of the liver. If not managed, it may progress to cirrhosis, a stage marked by irreversible liver damage and potential liver failure. The condition is also linked to higher risks of cardiovascular issues, chronic kidney disease, and liver study's findings emphasize the urgency of early diagnosis, especially as MASH is particularly common among people with type 2 diabetes and those who are overweight or obese. Researchers noted that around two-thirds of individuals with type 2 diabetes are thought to have Jeffrey Lazarus, the lead author of the study, stressed the economic and health burden posed by undiagnosed MASH. 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