Close
Project title
An investigation into the aetiology of acute fatty liver of pregnancy
Project description
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare, but devastating gestational syndrome that affects approximately 1 in 10,000 pregnancies. Women with AFLP present in the third trimester following a period of vomiting and starvation and then develop the clinical and biochemical characteristics of a defect in energy metabolism. An enzyme defect in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (LCHAD deficiency) is associated with up to 20% of cases of AFLP. The main aim of my thesis is to discover whether women who have had AFLP and who do not have LCHAD deficiency, have another subclinical defect in fat metabolism. Understanding the pathophysiology of AFLP could lead to a targeted therapy that would prevent the serious morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.
Start date
04/2014
Primary supervisor
Dr David Williams
Based at
The Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health