HELLP syndrome: the ten commandments

The internist has a role to play in the practical approach of HELLP syndrome, a disease which can differ according to its symptoms, course and causes. Any recent epigastric pain during the end of pregnancy must be considered as a symptom of HELLP syndrome. Liver disease together with thrombocytopeni...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inLa revue de medecine interne Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 58 - 64
Main Authors Pourrat, O, Pierre, F, Magnin, G
Format Journal Article
LanguageFrench
Published France 01.01.2009
Subjects
Abdominal Pain - diagnosis
Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use
Adult
Cesarean Section
Diagnosis, Differential
Emergencies
Female
HELLP Syndrome - diagnosis
HELLP Syndrome - drug therapy
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Parity
Pregnancy
Recurrence
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The internist has a role to play in the practical approach of HELLP syndrome, a disease which can differ according to its symptoms, course and causes. Any recent epigastric pain during the end of pregnancy must be considered as a symptom of HELLP syndrome. Liver disease together with thrombocytopenia may be present even without any renovascular involvement. The disease can be threatening for the mother and lead to the foetal death. It can be sometimes difficult to be distinguished from thrombotic microangiopathy. Treatment consists mainly in rapid discontinuation of pregnancy. Steroid therapy could allow to simplify anaesthesia procedures and to avoid blood transfusion. Early-onset HELLP syndrome could be a marker a chronic nephropathy or a thrombophilic disorder. The HELLP syndrome is a very demonstrative example of the help the internist can afford to the obstetrician in the management of pregnancy-associated disorders.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ObjectType-Report-3
ObjectType-Case Study-4
ISSN:0248-8663
DOI:10.1016/j.revmed.2008.06.010