A clinicohistopathologic comparison between HELLP syndrome and severe preeclampsia

To determine whether differences in the clinical entities of HELLP syndrome and severe preeclampsia are associated with different placental lesions.

This was a case control study of singleton pregnancies with HELLP syndrome or severe preeclampsia. Archived pathology slides were retrieved and reviewed. Clinical and histopathological features were compared between the two groups.

There were 31 women with HELLP syndrome and 56 with severe preeclampsia. HELLP syndrome was associated with epigastric pain and higher levels of LDH, bilirubin, liver enzymes and fibrin degradation products. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet counts were lower. Abruption lesions of the placenta were less common with HELLP syndrome (Odds Ratio 0.1 95% Confidence Interval 0.01,0.8). None of the other 22 placental features examined were different between the two conditions.

The significant overlap between HELLP syndrome and severe preeclampsia for both clinical and placental features suggests that the two conditions represent a spectrum of essentially the same pathophysiologic process.