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Temporising management of severe pre‐eclampsia with and without the HELLP syndrome
Author(s) -
Visser Willy,
Wallenburg Henk C. S.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1995.tb09062.x
Subject(s) - hellp syndrome , medicine , obstetrics , eclampsia , pregnancy , preeclampsia , gestation , gestational age , haemolysis , nonstress test , hemodynamics , blood pressure , immunology , heart rate , genetics , fetal heart rate , biology
Objective To test the null hypothesis that the course and outcome of pregnancy in patients with severe pre‐eclampsia receiving temporising haemodynamic treatment does not depend on the presence or absence of the syndrome of haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and a low platelet count (HELLP). Design A case‐controlled study. Setting High risk obstetric unit, University Hospital Rotterdam‐Dijkzigt, Rotterdam. Subjects One hundred and twenty‐eight consecutive pre‐eclamptic patients with HELLP, ges‐tational age less than 34 weeks, matched for maternal and gestational age with 128 pre‐eclamptic patients without HELLP. Intervention Both groups were treated with volume expansion and pharmacologic vasodilatation under invasive haemodynamic monitoring with the aim of prolonging gestation and enhancing fetal maturity. Main outcome measures Maternal and perinatal outcome in patients with and without HELLP. Results Except for variables pertaining to HELLP, clinical and laboratory data and median prolongation of pregnancy did not differ between both groups. Complete reversal of HELLP occurred in 43% of patients. Perinatal mortality was 14.1% in HELLP patients and 14.8% in patients without HELLP. No maternal complications occurred. Conclusion We cannot reject the null hypothesis. Our data do not support a general recommendation of prompt termination of pregnancy in HELLP. Temporising treatment may improve fetal and neonatal as well as maternal outcome.