Page 175 - Critical Maternity & Newborn Health Nursing

HELLP Syndrome

Incidence: 2% to 12% of cases

Fig., (17)˸ HEELP Syndrome adopted from
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scale()/hellp-syndrome-4177707-v1-5c6f207146e0fb000171898c.png

The syndrome is characterized by

1. Hemolysis of red blood cells: -

Platelet activation leads to increase release of thromboxane and

decrease prostacyclin production this leads to increase

vasoconstriction of the blood vessels and the RBCs are torn to pass

through the narrowed vessels which leads to destruction of RBCs.

2. Elevated liver enzymes: -

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