Everything You Need to Know About HELLP Syndrome What is HELLP syndrome? HELLP syndrome is a life – threatening medical condition which affects a woman during pregnancy, occurring in 1 % of all pregnancies. It is usually associated with preeclampsia, starting after the 20th week of pregnancy. If it is not detected and treated on time, HELLP leads to death. Luckily, this serious medical condition is very rare. The name itself of this syndrome is an acronym of three major problems that develop. It can be identified through laboratory analysis, H for hemolysis, EL for elevated liver enzymes, and LP for low platelet count. Signs and symptoms of HELLP syndrome Often, the signs and symptoms of HELLP syndrome are similar to those of flu. For this reason, you should seek professional medical help anytime you notice a presence of a new sign or symptom during pregnancy. In general, signs and symptoms of HELLP syndrome differ from one woman to the other. Usually, common signs and symptoms of this syndrome are: •
Feeling generally ill,
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Fatigue,
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Nausea,
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Vomiting,
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Headache,
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Stomach pain,
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Sudden excessive weight gain,
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Heartburn,
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Indigestion,
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Shoulder pain,
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Unexplained excessive bleeding,
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Vision changes,
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Blurred vision,
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Difficulties breathing,
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Confusion,
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Seizures, etc.
The real cause of this life – threatening medical condition is not known, but there are certain factors that seem to play a role in its development. Risk factors of HELLP syndrome include: •
Being over the age of 30 years old,
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Being overweight, especially obese,
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Being white,
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Developing Preeclampsia,
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Having a poor diet,
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Being diagnosed with diabetes, etc.
Also, every woman who has already had HELLP syndrome in a previous pregnancy has an increased risk of developing HELLP syndrome again. How is HELLP syndrome diagnosed? Diagnosing HELLP syndrome on time is very important, as it can save the life of the mother and her baby. Healthcare professionals diagnose HELLP syndrome based on a complete physical examination, medical history and various tests and examinations. Blood tests, urine tests, ultrasounds, MRI and other examinations are routinely performed. They will help identify any problems with the blood such as low levels of red blood cells or platelets, the presence of elevated liver enzymes or abnormal proteins, etc. Possible complications, even life – threatening ones, of HELLP syndrome are: •
Kidney failure,
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Liver rupture,
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Pulmonary edema,
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Acute respiratory failure,
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Blood clots,
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Placental abruption,
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Excessive bleeding during childbirth,
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Stroke, and
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Death.
All of the above – mentioned complications are life – threatening for the pregnant mother and her baby. For this reason, any signs and symptoms of HELLP should be detected early. The earlier the treatment is started, the greater are the chances of preventing and treating these serious complications, which eventually lead to death. How is HELLP syndrome treated? Once HELLP syndrome is diagnosed, treatment should be started immediately. Delivering the baby is important, regardless of the week of pregnancy. Once the baby is delivered, the signs and symptoms of this syndrome significantly improve. Delaying the childbirth through emergency Csection will only increase the possibility of various life - threatening complications. This includes the death of the mother and her baby. Treatment usually depends on the severity of the signs and symptoms of HELLP syndrome. In cases of mild signs and symptoms, or if the baby is less than 34 weeks, the following treatment options might be considered first: •
Hospitalization and bed rest,
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Antihypertensive medications which will help control the blood pressure,
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Magnesium sulfate which will help prevent seizures,
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Blood transfusions which will help treat low platelet count and anemia,
• Corticosteroid medications which will help the baby’s lung mature quickly, as the baby will be delivered before the due date when the lungs are not completely matured. Treatment of HELLP syndrome required close monitoring of the pregnant woman, her vital signs, platelet levels, red blood cells levels, liver enzymes levels, etc. A close monitoring the baby’s health is also necessary. In cases when there is no point of waiting longer, the labor is induced through medications or an emergency C-section is performed. However, this is accompanied by various complications, especially in cases when there is a low level of platelets and other problems with the blood. In general, if the condition is treated early, women recover completely. The signs and symptoms of HELLP syndrome improve significantly once the baby is delivered. Within the first couple of days after childbirth, most of the signs and symptoms of this life – threatening medical condition will disappear. However, in most of the cases, babies are delivered before the 37th week of pregnancy through Cesarean section. This means that they will require some support during the first few weeks, sometimes months of their life.
The earlier the baby is delivered through C-section, the greater are the chances for various health problems. How to prevent HELLP syndrome? As the real cause of HELLP syndrome is not known, it is impossible to prevent it from occurring in a pregnant woman. However, a pregnant woman who develops preeclampsia during their pregnancy can lower the risk of HELLP syndrome by exercising regularly and eating healthy foods. Foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, etc. It is also very important to consult a healthcare professional for every change or new symptom a pregnant woman notices during pregnancy. If HELLP syndrome is detected early and if the treatment is started immediately, the risk of life – threatening complications will be lower.