Korean J Med.  2004 Nov;67(5):521-527.

Incidence and clinical course of HELLP syndrome in pregnant women

• Kim JW
• Park TC
• Lee JW
• Kwon JC
• Kang YN
• Hong SH
• Kim YS
• Yoon SA
• Kim YO

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) is a serious medical complications including coagulopathy, hypertension, hepatic and renal failures, and pulmonary edema in pregnant women, the data about HELLP syndrome were rarely reported in the medical journal in Korea.
METHODS
Nineteen cases of HELLP syndrome were retrospectively studied out of 16,910 pregnant women from January 1998 to March 2004 at Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital. We analyzed incidence, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, maternal and clinical complications and clinical course of HELLP syndrome.
RESULTS
The incidence of HELLP syndrome was 0.27% (19/16,910) in total pregnant women and 4.15% (19/458) in women with preeclampsia. All patients had evidence of hemolysis and serum aspartate aminotransferase level >or= 70 IU/L, and platelet counts CONCLUSION
This data suggest that HELLP syndrome is not uncommon in women with preeclampsia and it represents poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Therefore, in order to decrease maternal and fetal morbidities, cooperation between internists and obstetric doctors is very important.

Keyword

Pregnancy; HELLP syndrome; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy complications

MeSH Terms

Acute Kidney Injury
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Female
Fetal Death
Fetal Growth Retardation
HELLP Syndrome*
Hemolysis
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypertension
Incidence*
Korea
Liver
Maternal Death
Platelet Count
Postpartum Period
Pre-Eclampsia
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications
Pregnant Women*
Pulmonary Edema
Renal Insufficiency
Retrospective Studies
Aspartate Aminotransferases