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HELLP Syndrome
Definition
HELLP syndrome is a group of symptoms that occur in pregnant women who have:
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
HELLP syndrome occurs in approximately 10% of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia may be mild or severe. Severe cases involve high blood pressure and protein in the urine and can progress to seizures (eclampsia). Severe cases are life-threatening to both mother and fetus. HELLP syndrome is associated with more serious cases.
It may occur long before a pregnancy reaches term (for example, HELLP at 30 weeks gestation). Many women have high blood pressure and are diagnosed with pre-eclampsia before they get HELLP syndrome. However, in some cases, HELLP symptoms are the first warning of pre-eclampsia and the condition is misdiagnosed as hepatitis, gallbladder disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• HELLP Syndrome Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• HELLP Syndrome Symptoms & Signs
• HELLP Syndrome Prevention
• HELLP Syndrome Diagnosis & Tests
• HELLP Syndrome Treatment
• HELLP Syndrome Prognosis
• HELLP Syndrome Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Eclampsia
• Gallbladder Disease
• Hemolytic Anemia
• Hepatitis
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
• Preeclampsia
• Premature Infant
Tests & Exams
• Blood Pressure
• Liver Function Tests
• Platelet Count
Other Topics
• Abdominal Pain
• Enzyme
• Headache
• Nausea and Vomiting
Review Date : 1/12/2003
Reviewed By : Daniel Rein, M.D., Obstetrician and Gynecologist, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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