Learn about HELLP syndrome in pregnant women with preeclampsia

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Resident Doctor Nguyen Thanh Vinh - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
HELLP syndrome is a syndrome of hemolytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia in pregnant women, usually occurring in the late stages of pregnancy, sometimes occurring after birth. This is a variant of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, which can seriously threaten the health of both mother and baby.

1. What is HELLP syndrome?

HELLP is an acronym for Hemolytic anemia, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelet count.
HELLP syndrome is a syndrome of hemolytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia in pregnant women, usually occurring in the late stages of pregnancy, sometimes occurring after birth. This is a variant of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, which can seriously threaten the health of both mother and baby.
Approximately 2% - 12% of patients with preeclampsia have HELLP syndrome. Of these, 50% of cases occur between 27 and 36 weeks of amenorrhea, but still very early cases have been described between 17-20 weeks of amenorrhea and others occur only in the postpartum period. (accounting for 30% of cases).

2. Recognizing signs of HELLP . syndrome

Symptoms of HELLP syndrome pre-eclampsia (toxemia of pregnancy) include:
Severe and progressive headache Blurred vision, irritability Nausea and vomiting Transverse epigastric pain Paresthesias numbness of the limbs Possible swelling Increased Blood pressure On examination, the liver capsule ruptured with hematoma, disseminated intravascular coagulation

3. How is HELLP syndrome treated?

HELLP syndrome can cause serious consequences such as damage to the liver and kidneys, leading to multi-organ failure, causing patients to have coagulation disorders, cerebral hemorrhage, and elevated liver enzymes. HELLP syndrome in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, if not treated quickly and promptly, will lead to an increasingly severe disease, the risk of death for both mother and child is very high.
The only and mandatory treatment for this syndrome is termination of pregnancy, ie removal of the fetus from the mother. After the fetus is removed, the mother's health will improve very quickly.
In addition, there are several drugs that have been studied for the treatment of HELL syndrome but its application in practice is controversial, questioning whether magnesium sulfate really reduces the risk of seizures leading to preeclampsia. jerk or not.
For pregnant women with disseminated intravascular coagulation, fresh frozen plasma can be treated to restore the clotting proteins. In some cases, blood transfusions may be required to correct anemia in the patient.
For mild cases of HELLP syndrome, only corticosteroids and antihypertensive drugs are needed.
HELLP syndrome in pregnant women with preeclampsia has signs that are quite confusing with the usual manifestations of the body during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women, especially pregnant women who have had pre-eclampsia symptoms, should not be subjective to any abnormal changes in the body. It is best for pregnant women to visit a specialist doctor for examination, advice, assessment of their health status and timely interventions to help protect the safety and health of both mother and child.
Doctor Nguyen Thanh Vinh has many years of experience in major hospitals such as Hue Central Hospital, Hue University Hospital of Medicine and Pharmacy and is the main doctor who practices medicine at Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital.

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