What are the causes of liver damage in pregnant women?

Pregnancy is a very important stage. The symptoms of liver damage during this period mainly include hyperemesis gravidarum, acute fatty liver, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, etc. So what are the causes of liver damage in pregnant women?

1

During pregnancy, due to the increase in estrogen-aldosterone levels, the body's blood volume increases, water increases by 30%-70% compared to before pregnancy, and cardiac output increases by 30%-50%. However, due to fetal shunting, the blood flow to the liver has not increased significantly, the blood circulation in the liver is relatively small, and the early pregnancy reaction can further affect the liver's nutrient intake.

During pregnancy, serum protein, blood sugar, and glycogen reserves are lower than those during the non-pregnancy period. However, during pregnancy, more nutrients are consumed, the liver is relatively deficient in nutrients, and is more susceptible to various viruses and toxins.

2

The metabolism is vigorous during pregnancy. The basal metabolic rate decreases slightly in the early stages of pregnancy and then gradually increases. In addition to the mother's body, the fetal metabolism, detoxification, and excretion all rely on the mother's liver. The burden on the liver is significantly increased compared to the non-pregnancy period.

3

Due to the influence of endocrine changes during pregnancy, estrogen increases significantly during pregnancy. During pregnancy, due to the effects of estrogen, progesterone and placental lactogen, pancreatic beta cells proliferate and hypertrophy, and excessive secretion of insulin causes pregnant women's fasting blood sugar to be slightly lower than that of non-pregnant women.

During the glucose tolerance test, it was found that pregnant women had prolonged periods of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, as well as glucagon inhibition. These changes led to reduced synthesis and storage of glycogen in liver cells.

4

Some patients during pregnancy may develop gestational hypertension, which can cause spasm of small blood vessels, reduce blood flow to the liver and kidneys, and cause renal damage and obstruction of metabolic product excretion. The two affect each other, aggravating the condition and making massive liver necrosis and liver failure more likely to occur.