Journal Reading

American Journal of
Experimental and Clinical Research
Original Article

HELLP Syndrome a severe form of

preeclampsia: A comparative study of clinical
and laboratorial parameters

Oleh :
Nurmaniar Majid

Supervisor :
dr. Djemi, Sp.OG (MARS)
Campos A, Goncalves A, Massa A, Amaral P, Silva P, Aguilar S
Obstetric Department, Maternal Fetal Unit, Nova Doctoral Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

Abstract. The objective of this study was to compare clinical,

laboratorial, maternal and perinatal results between HELLP Syndrome

and severe Preeclampsia. An observational study comparing women

with HELLP Syndrome (n=71) to women with severe preeclampsia

(n=253)
Introduction

Preeclampsia is characterized by hypertension (systolic and diastolic

blood pressure of ≥ 140 and 90 mm Hg, respectively, on two occasions,
at least 6 hours apart) and proteinuria (protein excretion of ≥ 300 mg in
a 24 h urine collection, or a dipstick of ≥ 1+), developing after 20 weeks
of gestation in previously normotensive women.

The syndrome characterized by micro-angiophatic hemolysis, liver

enzymes elevation and thrombocytopenia, occurring in 0.5% to 0.9% of
all pregnancies
Materials and Methods

We reviewed the medical records of women diagnosed with severe

preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome between January 1, 2008 and
December 31, 2013 in a tertiary perinatal care center in Lisbon, Portugal.

Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratorial data were analyzed.

According to ACOG criteria (2013) we classified as severe preeclampsia
cases with a systolic arterial pressure (SAP) greater than or equal to
160 mm Hg and a diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) greater than or
equal to 110mm Hg on two occasions 4 hours apart and the occurrence
of any of these findings: impaired liver function as indicated by
abnormally elevated blood concentrations of liver enzymes, significant
proteinuria (≥300 mg/dL) per 24 hour urine collection, severe and
persistent right upper quadrant or epigastric pain, headaches or visual
disturbances, serum creatinine concentration values greater than
1.1mg/dL or pulmonary edema.
The management during pregnancy consisted in symptomatic treatment,
maternal condition stabilization, and eventually pregnancy termination
when the risks of pregnancy continuation outweighed the benefits for
either the mother or the fetus.

We used anti-hypertensive therapy to stabilize maternal hypertension

and to prevent cerebrovascular events, when arterial pressure was equal
or greater than 160/100 mm Hg or with lower values associated with
other symptoms, such as headaches or epigastric pain. Magnesium
Sulfate was used for convulsions prophylaxis. When gestational age was
lesser than 34 weeks 6 days, antenatal corticosteroid therapy was used
for fetal lung maturation.
The data was registered in an informatics database. To compare
categorical variables between the study groups. Univariate analysis
was used to assess differences in baseline demographic and pregnancy
characteristics and in the outcome among the 2 groups.

Results
According to clinical and laboratory parameters the diagnosis of severe
preeclampsia was present in 253 cases while HELLP syndrome in 71.
Discussion
The prevalence of HELLP syndrome was 0.2% and complicated 27% of the
cases of severe preeclampsia.

Dexametasone was used, according to Mississippi protocol, for a faster

mother recovery.

The early and sudden onset, the elevation of liver enzymes and
thrombocytopenia are characteristic of HELLP syndrome severity.