A delay in the HELLP syndrome diagnosis

Czech version

Authors: J. Záhumenský ¹; E. Menzlová ¹; H. Hermann ²; B. Zmrhalová ¹; O. Šottner ¹; I. Vašíčka ¹; M. Halaška ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Gynekologicko‑porodnická klinika 1. lékařské fakulty UK a FN Na Bulovce Praha, přednosta prof. MU Dr. Michael Halaška, DrSc. 2 Ústav pro péči o matku a dítě Praha 4, ředitel doc. MU Dr. Jaroslav Feyereisl, CSc. ¹
Published in: Vnitř Lék 2011; 57(1): 113-116
Category: Case Reports

Overview

HELLP syndrome is a serious obstetrical complication that tends to occur in the second half of pregnancy that complicates six promiles of pregnancies. The term HELLP syndrome is derived from the beginning letters of the English words indicating laboratory changes, which is occurs as a specific illness in pregnancy. There is hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and a decreased platelet count. It can present itself with preeclampsia or without it. The most serious complications are disseminated intravascular coagulation, liver rupture or various organ failures. The pathogenesis at the moment is not completely known. The basic approach to care is delivery at the earliest possible term. HELLP syndrome generally arises in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, but can also occur after delivery. It has typical signs, which can also arise due to other liver diseases, but more frequently in diseases of the gall bladder, which in pregnancy given the physiological changes in the body of the pregnant women is also predisposed. In this context, woman with this problem can seek out other physicians than obstetricians. In our case, we wanted to refer to the needs of early diagnosis of this frequently diagnosed illness, since in the case of late diagnosis and a woman not sent to the obstetrical department can lead to a serious life threatening state for the mother and child.

Key words:
HELLP syndrom – pregnancy – preeclampsia – hepatopathie

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