[HELLP syndrome--a life-threatening pregnancy complication].

A serious complication to pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia is the HELLP syndrome (H - haemolysis, EL - elevated liver enzymes, LP - low platelet count). Perinatal and maternal mortality are reported to be high, 7-60% and 2-24%, respectively. A non-obstetric diagnosis is often made, such as gastrointestinal or haematologic disease. Typical symptoms are epigastric and right upper-quadrant pain and tenderness, nausea and vomiting. Recognition of the clinical and laboratory findings is important, so that early, aggressive therapy can be initiated in order to prevent maternal and perinatal death. We present data from 14 patients with the HELLP syndrome treated in our hospital. There was one intrauterine death. The other infants were discharged in good condition. Two of the patients had eclampsia.