Skip to main content

Table 3 Complications reported in the HELLP syndrome

From: The HELLP syndrome: Clinical issues and management. A Review

Maternal complications

Occurrence (%)

References

Eclampsia

4–9

[56]

Abruptio placentae

9–20

[3, 9, 35, 45, 57]

DIC

5–561

[35, 36, 58]

Acute renal failure

7–36

[4, 57, 59, 60]

Severe ascites

4–11

[36]

Cerebral oedema

1–8

[14, 36]

Pulmonary oedema

3–10

[3, 36, 60]

Wound hematoma/infection2

7–14

[3, 56]

Subcapsular liver hematoma

Between 0.9% and <2%

[9, 14, 61–64]

Liver rupture

>200 cases or about 1.8%

[45, 65]

Hepatic infarction

>30 cases combined with APS

[66]

Recurrent thrombosis

Associated with prothrombin gene 20210a mutation

[67]

Retinal detachment

1

[14]

Cerebral infarction

Few case reports

[68–71]

Cerebral Haemorrhage

1.5–403

[3, 36, 70]

Maternal death

1–25

[5, 11]

Foetal/neonatal complications

  

Perinatal death

7.4–34

[9, 72, 73].

IUGR

38–61

[5, 72, 74]

Preterm delivery4

70 (15% < 28 gestational weeks)

[9]

Neonatal thrombocytopenia 5

15–50

[5, 75]

RDS

5.7–40

[72, 76, 77]

  1. 1 depending on diagnostic criteria
  2. 2 after Caesarean section
  3. 3 in a highly selected group of patients
  4. 4 associated with increased risks of RDS, IVH and CP
  5. 5PLTs < 100·109/L