We all hope that pregnancy is a physiological stage and without great problems.
And, although this is what happens in most cases, there are complications that can make the pregnancy a risk for the mother and the baby.
One of those complications is HELLP Syndrome.
Why call it HELLP?
Its name is reminiscent of the request for help in English And really, HELLP syndrome is a life-threatening complication of pregnancy for both mother and baby.
However the name is an acronym for the following English words:
H.- Hemolysis or breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis)
EL.- Elevated liver enzymes (elevated liver enzymes)
LP.- Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (low platelet count)
What is this syndrome?
HELLP Syndrome is a set of symptoms that can be associated with preeclampsia, although in many cases it is diagnosed before the BP figures begin to rise significantly.
It is a disease with different manifestations or symptoms that was not defined as a syndrome with a common base until 1982. It was Dr. Luis Weinstein who found the link.
The symptoms are very varied and they can even guide the diagnosis towards other pathologies.
- Feeling of severe discomfort
- Headache
- Nausea, vomiting, or indigestion with pain after eating
- Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right part of the abdomen (this occurs due to liver distention)
- Shoulder pain
- Bleeding
- Changes in vision Blurred vision or vision of "lights"
- Swelling or edema
- High blood pressure
Analytical alterations:
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Significant loss of protein with urine
- Rupture of red blood cells
- Platelets decreased. Depending on this, the severity of the syndrome is classified; the most serious case is when platelets fall below 50.000
- Significant loss of protein in the urine
Is it frequent?
Luckily not. The occurrence of Hellp syndrome is rare, It occurs in about 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 pregnancies. Even if in women with preeclampsia, it develops in 10% to 20% of pregnancies.
When does it appear?
It usually appears from the 26th week of pregnancy, but it can also appear after delivery. This case is very rare.
It can also appear in the second trimester, although there are very few cases.
Women who have had pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome in pregnancy need special follow-up postpartum.
Importantly, a mother who has suffered from this syndrome in pregnancy is more likely to suffer it again in the following, Specifically, it is between 20 and 30% more likely than a woman who has not suffered from it, and if the syndrome appeared in the second trimester, the chances of her suffering it again are close to 60%.
Can it be prevented?
Prevention is very difficult, because the real causes are not known.
There are certain precautions that can help prevent or diagnose this problem early.
- Be in good physical shape and weight before and during pregnancy
- Carry out all the medical check-ups of the pregnancy
- Periodically attend consultations with the obstetrician and midwife, where they will take AT measurements.
- Do not stop doing any analysis that the professional prescribes us
- Always report our history of HELLP Syndrome or pre-eclampsia in previous pregnancies
- Know the warning signs and go to the emergency department if they appear
Does elevation of BP always appear?
Most of the time, but it can appear after we have been diagnosed with the problem.
On many occasions the diagnosis is made in view of the alterations in the analytical. That is why it is so important never to skip the tests, both blood and urine, that may be prescribed.
Do you have treatment?
Treatment depends on the symptoms.
The disease does not go away until the pregnancy is over. For this reason, it is often necessary to cause labor or perform a cesarean early if symptoms get worse and put mom and baby at risk.
Other controls and treatments:
- Hospitalization
- Medications to control BP
- Medicines to prevent seizures (magnesium sulfate)
- Corticosteroids to mature the baby's lungs
- Platelet or blood transfusion
- Admission to the ICU if the condition worsens
- Kidney function monitoring
- Postpartum surveillance
What will my delivery be like?
In mild cases, if there is no immediate urgency, they will surely cause delivery and you may have a totally normal delivery, although in these cases the use of epidural analgesia and strict control of the vital signs of the mother and the baby is recommended.
If any sign of urgency appears, you will most likely have a cesarean section.. In this case, the professionals will assess the type of incision that is most recommended according to your platelet levels, due to the risk of bleeding ...