[HELLP syndrome--severe complication during pregnancy].

HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) is a severe microcirculatory disturbance during pregnancy, associated with pre-eclampsia, but it may occur also without it. In HELLP maternal morbidity and mortality have increased. Typical complications include coagulation disorder, acute respiratory failure, acute renal failure, infections, central nervous system symptoms, hepatic failure and bleeding, and premature ablation of the placenta. The only effective means to treat the syndrome during pregnancy is termination of pregnancy.