Open AccessLife-threatening postpartum hemolysis, elevated liver functions tests, low platelets syndrome versus thrombocytopenic purpura - Therapeutic plasma exchange is the answer
Author(s) -
Prashant Nasa,
Jyoti Dua,
Sudha Kansal,
Geeta Chadha,
Rajesh Chawla,
Manav Manchanda
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
indian journal of critical care medicine/indian journal of critical care medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.317
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1998-359X
pISSN - 0972-5229
DOI - 10.4103/0972-5229.83016
Subject(s) - medicine , thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura , hellp syndrome , preeclampsia , hemolysis , microangiopathic hemolytic anemia , platelet , differential diagnosis , therapeutic plasma exchange , eclampsia , pregnancy , schistocyte , immunology , thrombocytopenic purpura , organ dysfunction , gastroenterology , pathology , biology , genetics , sepsis
The differential diagnosis of life-threatening microangiopathic disorders in a postpartum female includes severe preeclampsia-eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver functions tests, low platelets syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. There is considerable overlapping in the clinical and laboratory findings between these conditions, and hence an exact diagnosis may not be always possible. However, there is considerable maternal mortality and morbidity associated with these disorders. This case underlines the complexity of pregnancy-related microangiopathies regarding their differential diagnosis, multiple organ dysfunction and role of therapeutic plasma exchange in their management.