HELLP SYNDROME

A life-threatening pregnancy complication, HELLP syndrome is considered a form of pre-eclampsia.

HELLP stands for...

H (haemolysis – the breaking down of red blood cells)

EL (elevated liver enzymes)

LP (low platelet count)

The main symptoms include feeling tired, pain in the upper right part of the belly, bad headaches and nausea or vomiting. Patients may also experience swelling, especially of the face and hands. However, as the US Department of Health & Human Services – Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center says, “Because healthy pregnant women may also have these symptoms late in pregnancy, it may be hard to know for sure if they are attributable to HELLP syndrome.” No one’s sure what causes HELLP syndrome, but having preeclampsia and being over 25 are both common risk factors. Sources: WebMD; US Department of Health & Human Services – Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center; pre-eclampsia.org.