scholarly journals COVID-19 causing HELLP-like syndrome in pregnancy and role of angiogenic factors for differential diagnosis

Author(s):  
Francesc Figueras ◽  
Elisa LLurba ◽  
Raigam Martinez-Portilla ◽  
Josefina Mora ◽  
Fatima Crispi ◽  
...  

Importance: The clinical presentation of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome is one of the more severe forms of preeclampsia. COVID-19 infection exhibits signs that are shared with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, which may lead to needless interventions and iatrogenic preterm delivery. Objective: We evaluated the prevalence of HELLP-like signs in pregnant women admitted for COVID-19 and the value of angiogenic factors to rule out preeclampsia. Methods: a consecutive series of 27 pregnant women beyond 20 weeks of gestation, with symptomatic COVID-19. Clinical and analytical features were recorded and those cases with signs of HELLP syndrome were tested for sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. Results: Seven patients (25.9%) presented at least one sign of suspected HELLP syndrome, of which 2 (7.4%) were diagnosed clinically with PE because of hypertension and high transaminases and 5 (18.5%) had only elevated transaminases. sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was normal in 6 of 7. Conclusion: Symptomatic COVID-19 may simulate severe preeclampsia in pregnancy. Angiogenic factors may be essential to avoid false diagnosis and needless interventions. These data were presented in a Virtual Symposium on Covid-19 and Pregnancy on 17 April: 2020:(http://medicinafetalbarcelona.org/simposiocovid19/ [Spanish] and https://medicinafetalbarcelona.org/symposiumcovid19/ [English]

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moti Gulersen ◽  
Eran Bornstein

Abstract Background Legionnaires’ disease in pregnancy may cause severe maternal complications. Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome is a disorder associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Several medical conditions have been described as imitators of this syndrome, presenting with similar laboratory abnormalities. Case presentation A healthy, multiparous woman presented at 26 weeks’ gestation with fever, headache and general malaise, rapidly progressing to septic shock and respiratory collapse. Laboratory evaluation revealed similar abnormalities to those seen with HELLP syndrome. Emergent cesarean delivery was performed for worsening maternal and fetal conditions. Following delivery, infection with Legionella was diagnosed on urinary antigen testing. Supportive care was administered in the intensive care unit. Conclusion Legionnaires’ disease should be considered in gravidas presenting with rapidly deteriorating respiratory status, septic shock and laboratory abnormalities mimicking HELLP syndrome.


2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (02) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
János Rigó Jr ◽  
Tamás Bõze ◽  
Zoltán Derzsy ◽  
László Cervenak ◽  
Veronika Makó ◽  
...  

SummaryThe activity of ADAMTS13, the von Willebrand factor (VWF) cleaving protease is low in several conditions, including HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome. As HELLP syndrome develops in most cases on the basis of preeclampsia, our aim was to determine whether plasma ADAMTS13 activity is decreased in preeclampsia. Sixty-seven preeclamptic patients, 70 healthy pregnant women and 59 healthy non-pregnant women were involved in this case-control study. Plasma ADAMTS13 activity was determined with the FRETS-VWF73 assay, while VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) levels with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The multimeric pattern of VWF was analyzed by SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis. There was no significant difference in plasma ADAMTS13 activity between the preeclamptic and the healthy pregnant and non-pregnant groups (median [25–75 percentile]: 98.8 [76.5–112.8] %, 96.3 [85.6–116.2] % and 91.6 [78.5–104.4] %, respectively; p>0.05). However, plasma VWF:Ag levels were significantly higher in preeclamptic patients than in healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women (187.1 [145.6–243.1] % versus 129.3 [105.1–182.8] % and 70.0 [60.2–87.3] %, respectively; p<0.001). The multimeric pattern of VWF was normal in each group. Primiparas had lower plasma ADAMTS13 activity than multi-paras (92.6 [75.8–110.6] % versus 104.2 [92.1–120.8] %; p=0.011). No other relationship was found between clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and plasma ADAMTS13 activity in either study group. In conclusion, plasma ADAMTS13 activity is normal in preeclampsia despite the increased VWF:Ag levels. However, further studies are needed to determine whether a decrease in plasma ADAMTS13 activity could predis-pose preeclamptic patients to develop HELLP syndrome.


Author(s):  
Kanchan Durugkar

Background: The HELLP syndrome is a serious complication in pregnancy characterized by haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count occurring in 0.5 to 0.9% of all pregnancies and in 10-20% of cases with severe preeclampsia. The objective of the present prospective study is to study on incidence, diagnosis, and variable presentations of HELLP syndrome in preeclampsia to analyse the severity and complications, as it is associated with maternal, perinatal morbidity and mortality. HELLP syndrome is difficult to diagnose when it presents with atypical clinical features.Methods: In the prospective study of 300 admitted cases with more than 20 weeks of gestation, were having preeclampsia. The selected cases were analyzed clinically with relevant history, clinical data and detailed laboratory investigations made for better analyses of complications and outcome in HELLP syndrome.Results: Under further clinical diagnosis of 300 cases of preeclampsia, 34 cases (11.33%) were of HELLP Syndrome and 44 (14.66%) cases were of partial HELLP syndrome. The present study shows 2.9% maternal mortality in HELLP and 4.5% in partial HELLP syndrome. Perinatal mortality was 17.6% with HELLP and 25% with partial HELLP.Conclusions: The diagnosis of HELLP syndrome has been made as a severe variant and complication of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. It needs early diagnosis, timely intervention to arrest further progress and complications like multi organ dysfunction, renal failure, DIC, abruption etc and to improve maternal and perinatal outcome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 1339-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger Stepan ◽  
Martin Hund ◽  
Peter Dilba ◽  
Johanna Sillman ◽  
Dietmar Schlembach

Abstract Background For pregnant women with suspected preeclampsia, the soluble fms-like tyrosine-kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is a biomarker to aid diagnosis. We performed method comparisons between Elecsys® and Kryptor sFlt-1 and PlGF immunoassays and assessed the diagnostic performance for preeclampsia. Methods Serum samples from a case-control study involving 113 pregnant women with preeclampsia/elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP) and 270 controls were analyzed. sFlt-1 and PlGF were measured using Roche Elecsys® and BRAHMS Kryptor sFlt-1/PlGF immunoassays. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratios were calculated, and Passing-Bablok regression/Bland-Altman plots were performed. Gestation-specific cut-offs, ≤33 and ≥85/≥110, were assessed. Results Mean (±2 standard deviation [SD]) differences between the Elecsys® and Kryptor values were: sFlt-1, 173.13 pg/mL (6237.66, −5891.40); PlGF, −102.71 pg/mL (186.06, −391.48); and sFlt-1/PlGF, 151.74 (1085.11, −781.63). The Elecsys® and Kryptor immunoassays showed high correlation: Pearson’s correlation coefficients were 0.913 (sFlt-1) and 0.945 (PlGF). Slopes were 1.06 (sFlt-1) and 0.79 (PlGF), resulting in ~20% lower values for Kryptor PlGF. Sensitivities and specificities using the sFlt-1/PlGF ≥85 cut-off for early-onset preeclampsia (20 + 0 to 33 + 6 weeks) were 88.1%/100.0% (Elecsys®) and 90.5%/96.2% (Kryptor), respectively, and using the ≥110 cut-off for late-onset preeclampsia (≥34 + 0 weeks) were 51.3%/96.5% (Elecsys®) and 78.9%/90.1% (Kryptor), respectively. Using Elecsys® and Kryptor sFlt-1/PlGF, 0% and 3.8% of women, respectively, were falsely ruled-in for early-onset, and 3.5% and 9.9%, respectively, for late-onset preeclampsia. Conclusions Despite high correlation between the Elecsys® and Kryptor immunoassays, we observed significant differences between sFlt-1/PlGF and PlGF results. Therefore, sFlt-1/PlGF cut-offs validated for Elecsys® immunoassays are not transferable to Kryptor immunoassays.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (40) ◽  
pp. 2938-2941
Author(s):  
Aruna Mallangouda Biradar ◽  
Rajasri G Yaliwal ◽  
Shreedevi Somashekar Kori ◽  
Gamini B S ◽  
Shivakumar U Pujeri

BACKGROUND Haemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL) and low platelet count (LP) i.e., HELLP syndrome is a vaguely understood condition of pregnancy which can present with rapid onset. It is commonly associated with pre - eclampsia. HELLP is also known to manifest itself without the clinical features of pre - eclampsia. The present study aims to assess the maternal and foetal complications associated with HELLP syndrome. METHODS This retrospective study included all the pregnant women who developed HELLP / partial HELLP with gestational age of ≥ 28 weeks. The variables analyzed were obstetric history, menstrual history, antenatal complications, laboratory investigations (haemolysis, ALT / AST, LDH, CBC), mode of delivery, postnatal complications, maternal outcomes and perinatal outcomes. RESULTS 72 patients were included in the present study. The mean age of pregnant women with HELLP syndrome was 23.6 ± 4.15 years. The average age of gestation was 33.17 ± 4.02 weeks. 58 % patients were primigravida. As per Mississippi triple-class system 82 % patients had partial HELLP, 18 % had complete HELLP. 4 %, 4 % & 10 % patients had HELLP class I, II & III respectively. Among the total cases, 74 % patients had antepartum onset, 10 % had intrapartum & 17 % postpartum onset of HELLP syndrome respectively. 65 % patients delivered vaginally & rest 35 % underwent caesarean section. High risk factors such as pre - eclampsia (65 %), eclampsia (3 %) & previous history of HELLP (8 %) were noted in study cases. Abruptio placentae (18 %), postpartum haemorrhage (17 %), pulmonary oedema (14 %), renal failure (14 %) & DIC (7 %) were the maternal complications noted. Maternal mortality was 7 %. The major perinatal morbidities noted were prematurity (67 %) & FGR (42 %). Intrauterine death was noted in 19 % babies. Neonatal intensive care (NICU) was required for 58 % babies, of which 42 % had respiratory distress. Neonatal death was noted in 17 %. CONCLUSIONS HELLP syndrome is a life threatening condition of pregnancy which has serious maternal and perinatal morbidities. Prompt referral, timely and appropriate interventions can save lives. Availability of Intensive Care Units (ICU) facilities, dialysis units and blood and its components along with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) facilities can remarkably reduce the maternal and neonatal complications. KEY WORDS HELLP Syndrome, Preeclampsia, Maternal Mortality, Neonatal Mortality, Mississippi Triple - Class System


Author(s):  
Prachi M. Shelat ◽  
Rupa C. Vyas ◽  
Sapana R. Shah ◽  
Naimish D. Nathwani

Background: HELLP Syndrome is a serious complication of pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders. It is defined as a triad of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP). Objectives of this study was to find out incidence of HELLP syndrome in pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and its overall incidence. To analyse the clinical profile of HELLP syndrome. To study maternal and perinatal outcome including morbidity and mortality.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from July 2017 to September 2019 at a tertiary care center with inclusion criteria of abnormal peripheral blood smear, elevated liver enzymes (LDH, aspartate aminotransferase), and low platelet count.Results: HELLP syndrome was more common in younger age group (45%) and in primigravida (52.5%). Most of the patients presented at >36 weeks of gestation (40%) and most of the patients delivered by caesarean section (67.5%). Maternal complications were acute renal failure (27.5%), DIC (22.5%), maternal mortality (7.5%). Neonatal complications associated were intrauterine death (27.5%), prematurity (25%) and intrauterine growth retardation (15%).Conclusions: Thus, HELLP syndrome requires an early diagnosis and early initiation of treatment at tertiary care center with all the medical facilities available.


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