Fatty Liver Found to Raise C-Section and Early Birth
A recent Swedish study has found that women who develop a common type of fatty liver disease during pregnancy are at a significantly higher risk of giving birth prematurely. This condition, now called Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, appears to pose a risk independently of obesity.
What is MASLD?
MASLD is a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver, not due to alcohol use. It is often linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes and being overweight, and it’s becoming more frequent in women of childbearing age around the world.
Three Times More Likely to Have a Preterm Birth
The study, conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institute and published in eClinicalMedicine, analysed data from Sweden’s national registry. It compared 240 pregnancies involving women with MASLD to over 1,100 pregnancies in the general population.
The findings revealed that pregnant women with MASLD were over three times more likely to have a premature birth, defined as giving birth before 37 weeks. Notably, this increased risk remained even when compared to women who were overweight or obese but did not have liver disease.
Not Just About Weight – The Liver Matters
Lead researcher Dr. Carole A. Marxer explained that the elevated risk of early delivery isn’t just due to higher body weight. “The liver disease itself appears to play a role,” she said. This suggests that fatty liver disease is an independent risk factor during pregnancy and should not be overlooked.
Higher Chance of C-Section Births
The study also found that women with MASLD were 63% more likely to have a caesarean section. However, this seems to be more strongly related to higher BMI rather than the liver condition alone.
No Increase in Birth Defects or Stillbirths
On a more reassuring note, the researchers did not find any increased risk of birth defects or stillbirths in babies born to mothers with MASLD. This offers some comfort to expecting mothers diagnosed with the condition.
Call for Closer Monitoring and Updated Guidelines
Given the findings, the researchers recommend that pregnant women with MASLD be monitored more closely to help prevent complications. They also suggest that current medical guidelines may need to be updated to include MASLD as a pregnancy risk factor.
Conclusion
While the study accounted for many health factors, the team acknowledged that some unmeasured factors could still influence the results. More research will be important to fully understand how MASLD affects pregnancy and how best to manage it.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
Priya Bairagi
Reviewed by Dr Aarti Nehra (MBBS, MMST)
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
