Prognosis of children born to mothers with HELLP-syndrome

In literature there have been differences in the assessment of the outcome of children born to mothers with HELLP syndrome. In a retrospective study we investigated six annual groups (1989-1994) at the Perinatal Center in Erlangen (11,235 births, 68 children of mothers with HELLP syndrome), 53 children were treated in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The control group (n = 219) consisted of a complete age group in our NICU. The gestational age (mean 33 weeks, p < 0.003) and the birth weight (mean 1671 g, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the HELLP group. No significant differences were detected with respect to the frequency of leucocytopenia (p = 0.518) and thrombocytopenia (p = 0.215). Despite a relatively high rate (37.7%) of RDS there was only a significant tendency to the disadvantage of HELLP children (p = 0.075). There was no difference in frequency of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (p = 0.566). Infections were diagnosed less frequently in HELLP children (p = 0.042). Mortality in the control group was higher only as a tendency (p = 0.07). The follow-up examinations of the neurological development covered 31 of the 53 treated children. After 6-72 months (median 24 months), 90.3% of these children showed normal development or only minor disabilities. The prognosis of children of mothers with HELLP syndrome is not as bad as has been assumed so far.