deficiency, LCHAD

deficiency, LCHAD Deficiency of the enzyme long-chain-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenease (LCHAD), an abnormality of fatty acid metabolism. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) has been found to be associated in some cases with LCHAD deficiency. In such cases, both parents have LCHAD activity at half of normal levels, but the fetus has none. The metabolic disease in the baby’s liver apparently causes the fatty liver disease in the mother. In women who have had AFLP, the risk of AFLP increases with each pregnancy. See also acute fatty liver of pregnancy.