Rotura hepática espontánea en el síndrome HELLP / Spontaneous liver rupture in HELLP syndrome

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Rotura hepática asociada a síndrome de HELLP / Hepatic rupture associated with HELLP syndrome

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Hematoma subcapsular hepático, una complicación infrecuente de los estados hipertensivos del embarazo / Subcapsular hepatic hematoma: a rare complication of hypertension in pregnancy

El hematoma subcapsular hepático es una infrecuente y grave complicación de los estados hiperten-sivos del embarazo que debe sospecharse ante un cuadro clínico sugerente y confirmarse mediante tomografía computarizada abdominal. Esto permitirá actuar con rapidez ante su posible rotura y así mejorar la elevada morbimortalidad maternofetal asociada (AU)

Subcapsular hepatic hematoma is an infrequent and severe complication of hypertension in pregnancy and should be suspected when there are clinical signs compatible with this diagnosis, which should be confirmed by abdominal computed tomography. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important to avoid rupture, thus improving the high associated maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality (AU)

Rotura espontánea del hígado en el síndrome HELLP / Spontaneous hepatic rupture in HELLP syndrome

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Comparison of referral and non-referral hypertensive disorders during pregnancy: an analysis of 271 consecutive cases at a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the clinical manifestations in patients with preeclampsia and eclampsia, assessed the risk factors compared to the severity of hypertensive disorders on maternal and perinatal morbidity, and mortality between the referral and non-referral patients. METHODS: 271 pregnant women with preeclampsia and eclampsia were assessed (1993 to 1997). Chi-square analysis was used for the comparison of categorical variables, and the comparison of the two independent variables of proportions in estimation of confidence intervals and calculated odds ratio of the referral and non-referral groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used for adjusting potential confounding risk factors. RESULTS: Of the 271 patients included in this study, 71 (26.2%) patients were referrals from other hospitals. Most of the 62 (87.3%) referral patients were transferred during the period 21 and 37 weeks of gestation. Univariate analysis revealed that referral patients with hypertensive disorder were significantly associated with SBP > or =180, DBP > or =105, severe preclampsia, haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP), emergency C/S, maternal complications, and low birth weight babies, as well as poor Apgar score. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the risk factors identified to be significantly associated with increased risk of referral patients included: diastolic blood pressure above 105 mmHg (adjusted odds ratio, 2.09; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.06 to 4.13; P = 0.034), severe preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio, 3.46; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.76 to 6.81; P < 0.001), eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.77; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.92 to 8.35; P = 0.071), HELLP syndrome (adjusted odds ratio, 18.81; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.14 to 164.99; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The significant factors associated with the referral patients with hypertensive disorders were severe preeclampsia, HELLP, and eclampsia. Lack of prenatal care was the major avoidable factor found in referral and high risk patients. Time constraints relating to referral patients and the appropriateness of patient-centered care for patient safety and better quality of health care need further investigation on national and multi-center clinical trials.

Are we increasing serious maternal morbidity by postponing termination of pregnancy in severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia?

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of admission--delivery interval on maternal morbidity in patients with severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. This was a retrospective study, which involved review of case sheets of 188 women (admitted to St John's Medical College Hospital during the year 2000--2001 with the above diagnosis). The incidence of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia was 5.18% (188/3,627) with 119 primigravida and 69 multigravida. The incidence of serious maternal complications in the post partum period was 17% (11/68) in the category of women who delivered within 12 hours of admission compared with 40.6% (28/69) in the 12--48-h category and 60.8% (31/51) in the>48-h category. The incidence of serious maternal complications in the subset with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome was 33.4% (7/21) in the12-h. We concluded that termination of pregnancy within 12 hours of admission in severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia especially in patients with HELLP syndrome helps to prevent avoidable serious maternal morbidity.

Lethal pontine hemorrhage in postpartum syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet count.

BACKGROUND: HELLP syndrome (a combination of hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet count) is a severe variant of preeclampsia that generally occurs before delivery but can occur post partum. This syndrome is more common than eclampsia and frequently leads to devastating neurological consequences such as intracerebral hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE: Although mentioned in the obstetric literature, there has been sparse reporting in the neurology literature specifically regarding intracerebral hemorrhage in HELLP syndrome. We illustrate such a case and review the existing literature regarding this severe complication. SETTING: Obstetric unit at an academic medical center. PATIENT: A 34-year-old primigravida experienced a pontine hemorrhage and subsequent respiratory arrest 22 hours after a normal delivery. This hemorrhage occurred 7 hours after the sudden onset of hypertension, severe headache, and intermittent abdominal pain. RESULTS: Laboratory and postmortem evidence suggested HELLP syndrome with disseminated intravascular coagulation as the cause of her intracerebral hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Our case suggests the importance of the neurology consultant's familiarity with HELLP syndrome and the need for thorough laboratory testing and close monitoring in the puerperal patient with headache and hypertension.

Permanent visual deficits secondary to the HELLP syndrome.

A 34-year-old woman with eclampsia and the hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome developed encephalopathy, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary edema, liver failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), all of which resolved. She also had retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and a hemorrhagic infarct in the left occipital lobe that resulted in a permanent right homonymous hemianopia and a persistently depressed acuity of 20/100 OS. This case is unusual in demonstrating permanent visual deficits. In nearly all cases of preeclampsia or eclampsia, visual deficits are reversible. The superimposition of the HELLP syndrome may create more neurologic damage. Clinicians should be alert to patients at risk for HELLP syndrome and manage them aggressively.

Acute renal failure due to HELLP syndrome and acute renal failure in mid gestation.

A 34-year-old grand multipara (para 7, 4 alive) was managed at the National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria for acute renal failure due to HELLP syndrome following referral from a peripheral hospital. She presented with a history of vomiting, headache, epigastric pain, loss of consciousness and tonic/clonic seizures. Though she was unsure of her exact dates, clinically the gestational age was estimated at 22 weeks. She was managed in the intensive care unit, following delivery of a macerated fetus within 15 h of hospital admission. The patient received mechanical ventilation and three sessions of haemodialysis as part of her successful management while in the intensive care unit. The uncommon presentation of eclampsia and HELLP syndrome before obvious preeclampsia is discussed, as well as the other signs and symptoms and patient management. The case also highlights the resource-poor environment of peripheral and tertiary hospitals in Nigeria.

Postpartum cerebellar infarction and haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet (HELLP) syndrome.

Pregnancy is considered to be a hypercoagulable state per se with an increased risk for cerebrovascular events, however cerebellar infarction has been rarely described in pregnant women. A nulliparous pre-eclamptic woman at 25 weeks' gestation was submitted to an echocardiographic exam that showed an impaired cardiac structure and function. After 2 h, the patient underwent caesarean section for diagnosis of haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet (HELLP) syndrome. Afterwards her platelet count raised, and eight days later she developed nystagmus, ataxia, dysmetria and motor deficit in the right limbs and sensory impairment in the right side of the face and in the left limbs. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a right cerebellar and median posterior bulbar infarction. Colour-coded sonography of cerebral vessels showed an occlusion of the right vertebral artery. Coagulation pattern analysis evidenced double heterozygosis of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and single mutation of the prothrombin gene. This case report gives evidence of the importance of considering the different risk factors involved in stroke occurrence during pregnancy.

[31-year-old gravid woman of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome associated with HELLP syndrome after labor].

We report on a 31-year-old gravid woman with reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) associated with HELLP syndrome. The patient was hospitalized and underwent an emergency cesarean section at the 34th week of pregnancy due to severe toxemia. After labor her blood pressure acutely increased to 180/100 mmHg and a generalized convulsion occurred. Laboratory data revealed hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets, consistent with HELLP syndrome. FLAIR and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient images on MRI showed hyperintense lesions bilaterally in the posterior white matter, however Diffusion-Weighted images revealed slightly hyperintense changes in the same locations. With the use of diltiazem for blood pressure control, and anticonvulsants, convulsions disappeared and consciousness level improved. Moreover the MRI abnormalities also improved after therapy. This case was diagnosed as RPLS associated with HELLP syndrome and is the first case of an investigation utilizing Diffusion-Weighted and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient images to establish this diagnosis. Based on these results, possible mechanisms of RPLS may be vasogenic edema mediated by a cerebrovascular endothelial disturbance of cerebral vessels and a rapid blood-pressure increase due to HELLP syndrome.

[Hepatic haemorrhage in pregnancy: a case report]. / Emorragia epatica in gravidanza: caso clinico.

Spontaneous hepatic haemorrhage in pregnancy (SHHP) is a rare event (1 woman out of 15,000). It is generally considered as an advanced state of the microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (HELLP, Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzyme levels, Low Platelet count). Furthermore, the HELLP is considered as a different form of preeclampsia. The patient, a 33-year-old-woman at 30 weeks' gestation, was admitted to hospital for preeclampsia, underwent an emergency Stark caesarean section with the extraction of an alive foetus and evidence of massive intraperitonal haemorrhage from a large hepatic haematoma. A haemostasis with gauzes of Surgicel was performed, with consequent arrest of the haemorrhage. After approximately 6 hours, a recurrence of the intraperitonal haemorrhage led to a new surgical intervention with hepatic packing with gauzes. After 4 days the patient died. The etiopathogenesis of disease is uncertain, both foetal and maternal mortality are high, and the slight number of reported cases (27) of SPPH from HELLP in international literature offer elements for debate. The following points have been put forward: 1. the monitoring of the counts of the platelets represent the only valid predictive test of HELLP. These concerned women in the third trimester of pregnancy, especially those with a history of preeclampsia; 2. the treatment must be immediate, intensive and multidisciplinary, the plasmapheresis has remarkably improved the prognosis; 3. surgical treatment performed in order to control the SPPH makes use of packing, embolization and/or fastening of the common hepatic artery and, in extreme cases, total hepatectomy with transplantation. The Authors believe it is useful to suggest a national epidemiological research in order to estimate the real incidence of the syndrome in Italy and to establish the guidelines for the medico-surgical treatment.

General anesthesia with remifentanil for Cesarean section in a patient with HELLP syndrome.

HELLP syndrome is a severe complication of pre-eclampsia characterised by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and a low platelet count. It is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome for both the mother and the fetus. Patients with HELLP syndrome are also at greater risk of pulmonary edema, adult respiratory distress syndrome, abruptio placentae, intracerebral hemorrhage, eclamptic convulsions, disseminated intravascular coagulation, ruptured liver hematomas and acute renal failure. Perinatal mortality is equally high. Before delivery, aggressive obstetric management is directed toward stabilization of the affected organ systems, if possible, and interruption of the pregnancy in the early phase of the accelerated disease progression. Definitive therapy is delivery. Parturients HELLP syndrome often require general anesthesia for Cesarean section delivery. The anesthetic technique is critical for these patients with a high risk of uncontrollable hypertension, bleeding and multiple organ failure. Remifentanil is increasingly used as a very short analgesic agent providing cardiovascular stability in high-risk patients. We report the management of a patient presenting in labor with HELLP syndrome, and describe the successful use of remifentanil as part of the anesthetic technique for her subsequent Cesarean section.

Atypical onset of antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: We present a case of an atypical onset of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). CASE: A woman in her 15th week gestation had a thrombosis of an unknown cerebral cavernoma, which was successfully removed. Twenty-six days after, she was admitted for a severe pain in right hypochondrium and a second class HELLP syndrome was diagnosed. Two days after, she had a fetal loss. After 1 month, laboratory tests revealed high level of antiphospholipid antibodies. At the same time, she developed a spontaneous thrombosis at her right arm. After 6 weeks, antiphospholipid antibodies, tested again, result positive. CONCLUSION: Antiphospholipid antibodies often cause pregnancy complications, but, to our knowledge, this is the first report of an association of antiphospholipid antibodies, with cerebral cavernoma thrombosis and early onset HELLP syndrome.

Postpartum heparin therapy for patients with the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) is associated with significant hemorrhagic complications.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of two groups of 16 patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome treated with heparin therapy or treated conservatively in the postpartum period. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing 16 consecutive patients with HELLP syndrome admitted to the ICU at the University of Florence (Italy) after delivery and treated with heparin, to 16 patients with the same disease admitted to the University of Virginia (UVA, USA) and treated with supportive therapy. RESULTS: Nine patients in the Florence group developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Six of them developed postpartum hemorrhage that was medically and surgically controlled. Five hysterectomies were performed and seven other laparotomies were necessary in four patients to control further bleeding complications. In the UVA group, one patient developed DIC and another one a retroperitoneal hematoma that resolved with no need for surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Heparin therapy for postpartum patients with HELLP syndrome was associated with bleeding complications. We speculate that the heparin therapy was the cause for the bleeding complications occurred in the Florence group of patients.