Have you come across a pregnant patient with abnormal liver function tests with low platelet count? Does the patient also demonstrate low platelet count? Are the tests are not conclusive for preeclampsia? This can be a case of HELLP syndrome. This article provides a brief overview of HELLP syndrome, its diagnosis , and treatment. HELLP syndrome is the disorder that is thought to be the associated with preeclampsia.
Acronym HELLP stands for H emolysis, E levated L iver enzymes and L ow P latelet count. The association of preeclampsia and HELLP is controversial. According to some, HELLP is a severe form of preeclampsia. As many as 15 to 20 % of patients with HELLP syndrome do not have antecedent hypertension or proteinuria, which has made many to believe that HELLP is a separate disorder from preeclampsia. The common presentations of both severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome include…
