Characteristic laboratory changes in pregnancies complicated by HELLP syndrome.

INTRODUCTION

HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) is a severe, life-threatening form of preeclampsia. Its development is accompanied by significant increase in maternal, as well as fetal, morbidity, and mortality rates. It is essential, therefore, for obstetricians to be familiar with the disease.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In the past 10 years, 107 patients were treated for HELLP syndrome in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Semmelweis University. During this time, we studied the characteristic laboratory findings of the disease from the day of the diagnosis until the first few postpartum days.

RESULTS

HELLP syndrome was present in 0.37% of all women having live births. In our study, the liver enzymes AST, and LDH, and the level of total bilirubin (indicating the degree of hemolysis), and repeated thrombocyte counts were suitable for following the cases. The AST, LDH and bilirubin levels returned to normal between the third and seventh days postpartum. The platelet count passed the critical level of 100,000/microL on the third to fourth day.

CONCLUSIONS

We have found that the platelet count, LDH, AST, and total bilirubin levels proved to be useful indicators of the progression of HELLP syndrome.