[The HELLP syndrome: a special form of hypertension in pregnancy].

The HELLP syndrome--H for haemolysis, EL for elevated liver enzymes and LP for low platelet count, is a serious complication of hypertension of pregnancy. We report five cases of this syndrome. The haemolysis, which is the consequence of a microangiopathic haemolytic anemia, is not always present: we report four such cases. The recognition of the HELLP syndrome even in the absence of hypertension is important and must be thought of when epigastric or dorsal pain occur in the second half of pregnancy. No liver biopsy was done in this small series.