Hellp syndrome: incidence and maternal-fetal outcome--a prospective study

To determine the incidence of Hellp syndrome (HS) and the maternal fetal outcome associated with its occurrence.

A prospective study during a 6-month period.

The department of obstetrics and gynecology and the Intensive Care Unit of a 700 bed teaching hospital.

Sixty-two consecutive preeclamptic and eclamptic women.

All patients were systematically investigated for the biological markers of HS. The effects of the occurrence of HS on maternal and fetal prognosis were evaluated by comparing for prognosis indicators usually assessed in gravidic hypertension, pre-eclamptic and eclamptic woman who exhibited HS (HS+ subgroup) with HS free patients (HS- subgroup). HS was found in 12 out of the 62 pre-eclamptic and eclamptic women (19.3%). Its occurrence was associated with higher maternal mortality (16.7% vs 0%; p = 0.03), a greater incidence of eclamptic crisis (50% vs 20%; p = 0.03), severe hypertension (33% vs 8%; p = 0.03) and episodes of acute renal failure (66% vs 30%; p = 0.02). Mean proteinuria was also higher in HS+ patients (4.6 +/- 3.3 vs 2.2 +/- 2.5 g/day; p = 0.001). However, fetal outcome was not significantly altered.

Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia may be more severe in the presence of HS with a worsening of maternal prognosis while fetal outcome seems not altered.