Brain abscess due to Listeria monocytogenes after HELLP syndrome in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome

Lupus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1002-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Fervienza ◽  
M Bodro ◽  
P Castro ◽  
S Hernández ◽  
I Teixidó ◽  
...  

Objective To illustrate an unusual case of Listeria cerebral abscess. Material and methods A 32-year-old pregnant woman with thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) received corticotherapy for two weeks due to hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet (HELLP) syndrome. After delivery she presented with neurological symptoms and fever. Results The MRI scan confirmed the presence of a brain abscess, and Listeria monocytogenes was isolated in blood cultures. After eight weeks of antibiotic treatment, the patient presented no sequelae. Conclusion L. monocytogenes should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with fever and neurological dysfunction, especially in those with a recent history of corticotherapy.

Author(s):  
Luiz Felipe Bagnatori Braga ◽  
Nelson Sass

AbstractThe present report describes the case of a 31-year-old primigravida, with dichorionic twins at 31 weeks. She presented with history of myalgia, jaundice, and abdominal discomfort. No flu-like symptoms as fever or cough. She was not aware of exposure to COVID-19. Normal blood pressure and O2 saturation. Laboratory tests showed platelet count of 218,000 mm3, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 558 IU and serum creatinine 2.3 mg/dl. Doppler ultrasound in one twin was compatible with brain sparing. Partial hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome was the hypothesis, and a cesarean section was performed. On day 2, the white-cell count reached 33,730, with decreased consciousness and mild respiratory distress. Tomography revealed both lungs with ground-glass opacities. Swab for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive. Thrombocytopenia in patients with COVID-19 appears to be multifactorial, similar to what occurs in preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. We assume that the synergism of these pathophysiological mechanisms could accelerate the compromise of maternal conditions and could be a warning to the obstetric practice.


2021 ◽  
pp. 175114372110254
Author(s):  
Evangelia Poimenidi ◽  
Yavor Metodiev ◽  
Natasha Nicole Archer ◽  
Richard Jackson ◽  
Mansoor Nawaz Bangash ◽  
...  

A thirty-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to hospital with headache and gastrointestinal discomfort. She developed peripheral oedema and had an emergency caesarean section following an episode of tonic-clonic seizures. Her delivery was further complicated by postpartum haemorrhage and she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further resuscitation and seizure control which required infusions of magnesium and multiple anticonvulsants. Despite haemodynamic optimisation she developed an acute kidney injury with evidence of liver damage, thrombocytopenia and haemolysis. Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome, a multisystem disease of advanced pregnancy which overlaps with pre-eclampsia, was diagnosed. HELLP syndrome is associated with a range of complications which may require critical care support, including placental abruption and foetal loss, acute kidney injury, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, acute liver failure and liver capsule rupture. Definitive treatment of HELLP is delivery of the fetus and in its most severe forms requires admission to the ICU for multiorgan support. Therapeutic strategies in ICU are mainly supportive and include blood pressure control, meticulous fluid balance and possibly escalation to renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation, neuroprotection, seizure control, and management of liver failure-related complications. Multidisciplinary input is essential for optimal treatment.


2003 ◽  
Vol 42 (10) ◽  
pp. 1052-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayuki MATSUDA ◽  
Shigeaki MITSUHASHI ◽  
Megumi WATARAI ◽  
Kanji YAMAMOTO ◽  
Takao HASHIMOTO ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rizwana Roomaney ◽  
Michelle G. Andipatin ◽  
Anika Naidoo

Background: Haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP syndrome) is a high-risk pregnancy condition that could be fatal to mother and/or baby. It is characterised, as the acronym indicates, by haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low blood platelets. Objective: This study explored women in Cape Town’s psychological experience of HELLP syndrome.Method: Six participants who previously experienced HELLP syndrome were interviewed. Using a grounded theory approach, themes emerged and a model illlustrating the psychological experience of HELLP syndrome was constructed.Results: The major themes that emerged were the perceived lack of information, a need to assign blame and a shift in focus. Themes of not knowing and trance and/or surreal experience underpin the cognitive aspects of the HELLP syndrome experience. Themes that expressed feelings of an inability to control, whirlwind and/or rapid pace and support acted together to bind the experience. Finally, emotions such as anger, ambivalence, disbelief, anxiety, guilt, loneliness and fear were present throughout the experience.Conclusion: This study developed an initial exploratory model representing the psychological experience of HELLP syndrome in a sample of South African women. Underlying this entire experience was a perceived lack of information which had a profound effect on numerous aspects of the experience ranging from where to locate blame to the varied emotions experienced. Agtergrond: Die HELLP sindroom is ‘n hoë-risiko swangerskap toestand wat kan dodelik vir moeder en/of baba wees. Dit word gekenmerk deur hemolise, verhoogde lewerensieme en lae bloedplaatjies.Doelwit: Hierdie studie het Suid-Afrikaanse vroue se sielkundige ervaring van die HELLP sindroom ondersoek.Metode: Ses deelnemers wat voorheen HELLP sindroom ervaar het is ondervra. Met die gebuik van gefundeerde teorie as ‘n teoretiese raamwerk en ontleding het temas na vore gekom en ‘n model wat die sielkundige ervaring van HELLP sindroom illustreer, is gebou.Resultate: Die vernaamste temas wat na vore gekom het was die oënskynlike gebrek aan inligting, ‘n behoefte om skuld toe te skryf en ‘n verskuiwing in fokus. Die tema van nie weet en beswyming en/of surrealistiese ervaring ondersteun die kognitiewe aspekte van die HELLP sindroom. Temas wat gevoelens van geen beheer, warrelwind en/of vinnige tempo en ondersteuning uitgesprek het, het saam opgetree om die ervaring te bind. Ten slotte, emosies soos woede, teenstrydigheid, ongeloof, angs, skuldgevoelens, eensaamheid en vrees was teenwoordig in die hele ervaring.Gevolgtrekking: Hierdie studie het van’n aanvanklike ondersoekende model van die sielkundige ervaring van HELLP sindroom tot ‘n steekproef van die Suid-Afrikaanse vroue ontwikkel. Onderliggend aan hierdie hele ervaring was ‘n oënskynlike gebrek aan inligting wat ‘n diepgaande uitwerking gehad het op talle aspekte van die ervaring wat gewissel het van waar om die blaam te plaas tot die uiteenlopende ervaarde emosies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sau Xiong Ang ◽  
Chie-Pein Chen ◽  
Fang-Ju Sun ◽  
Chen-Yu Chen

Abstract Background: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome are two uncommon disorders that mimic each other clinically, but are distinct pathophysiologically. This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between AFLP and HELLP syndrome.Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary referral center in Taiwan between June 2004 and April 2020. We used the Swansea Criteria to diagnose AFLP, and the Tennessee Classification System to diagnose HELLP syndrome. Maternal characteristics, laboratory data, complications, and neonatal outcomes were analyzed.Results: During the study period, 21 women had AFLP and 80 women had HELLP syndrome. There was a higher rate of preeclampsia (95.0% versus 23.8%) in the HELLP syndrome group compared to the AFLP group. However, the AFLP group had more other maternal complications including jaundice (85.7% versus 13.8%), acute kidney injury (61.9% versus 15.0%), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (66.7% versus 8.8%), and sepsis (47.6% versus 10.0%) compared to the HELLP syndrome group. Nevertheless, higher rates of small for gestational age neonates (57.1% versus 33.3%), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (39.2% versus 8.3%) and neonatal sepsis (34.2% versus 12.5%) were noted in the HELLP syndrome group.Conclusions: AFLP is associated with a higher rate of multiple organ dysfunction in mothers, whereas HELLP syndrome is associated with a higher rate of neonatal morbidity.


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.


Author(s):  
Ashok R. Anand ◽  
Binita H. Shah ◽  
Pratibha Vashisth

Subcapsular liver hematoma is rare complication of severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, thus making it essential for these patients to be followed up in critical and intensive care units for advanced medical support with fluid and electrolyte management and replacement of blood products while treating underlying disorders. Treatment options have to be individualised and vary from conservative management to surgical treatment including hepatic resection, hepatic artery ligation, and liver transplantation. In this paper we report a case of ruptured hepatic hematoma in a 35 year old female, few hours within delivery, a complication of severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome


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