Introduction
HELLP syndrome is a life-threatening liver disorder thought to be a type of severe preeclampsia during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. The name HELLP stands for:
H – hemolytic anemia, hemolysis (destruction of blood cells).
EL – elevated liver enzymes (sign of liver damage).
LP – low platelet count (blood cells that help stop bleeding).
HELLP syndrome often occurs without warning and can be difficult to recognize. In most cases, HELLP syndrome occurs before 35 weeks of pregnancy, but it can also develop right after childbirth. It can be fatal to both the mother and baby.
What are the causes?
The cause of this …show more content…
Kidney function test.
Measurement of salts and other chemicals in your body (electrolytes).
Blood coagulation tests.
How is this treated?
This condition is treated by delivering your baby as soon as possible. This may be done by giving you medicines to start contractions (induction of labor) or cesarean delivery.
Before delivery, you can be treated for a short time with an injection of magnesium sulphate. This medicine reduces muscle contractions and blocks the communication (impulse) from nerves to the muscles, which helps prevent seizures.
Medicines to lower and control blood pressure may also be used. Steroid hormones (corticosteroids) may be given to help your baby's lungs mature faster.
Your health care provider may recommend that you take one low-dose aspirin (81 mg) each day to help prevent high blood pressure during your pregnancy if you are at risk for preeclampsia. You may be at risk for preeclampsia if:
You had preeclampsia or eclampsia (high blood pressure with seizures) during a previous pregnancy.
Your baby did not grow as expected during a previous pregnancy.
You experienced preterm birth with a previous pregnancy.
You experienced a separation of the placenta from the uterus (placental abruption) during a previous
HELLP syndrome is a life-threatening liver disorder thought to be a type of severe preeclampsia during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. The name HELLP stands for:
H – hemolytic anemia, hemolysis (destruction of blood cells).
EL – elevated liver enzymes (sign of liver damage).
LP – low platelet count (blood cells that help stop bleeding).
HELLP syndrome often occurs without warning and can be difficult to recognize. In most cases, HELLP syndrome occurs before 35 weeks of pregnancy, but it can also develop right after childbirth. It can be fatal to both the mother and baby.
What are the causes?
The cause of this …show more content…
Kidney function test.
Measurement of salts and other chemicals in your body (electrolytes).
Blood coagulation tests.
How is this treated?
This condition is treated by delivering your baby as soon as possible. This may be done by giving you medicines to start contractions (induction of labor) or cesarean delivery.
Before delivery, you can be treated for a short time with an injection of magnesium sulphate. This medicine reduces muscle contractions and blocks the communication (impulse) from nerves to the muscles, which helps prevent seizures.
Medicines to lower and control blood pressure may also be used. Steroid hormones (corticosteroids) may be given to help your baby's lungs mature faster.
Your health care provider may recommend that you take one low-dose aspirin (81 mg) each day to help prevent high blood pressure during your pregnancy if you are at risk for preeclampsia. You may be at risk for preeclampsia if:
You had preeclampsia or eclampsia (high blood pressure with seizures) during a previous pregnancy.
Your baby did not grow as expected during a previous pregnancy.
You experienced preterm birth with a previous pregnancy.
You experienced a separation of the placenta from the uterus (placental abruption) during a previous