RENAL FUNCTION DERANGEMENT IN HELLP SYNDROME

Abstract

Anusha Harihara Gopalan

BACKGROUND
HELLP is the acronym for haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count. HELLP syndrome is a form of severe
preeclampsia with an incidence of 0.2-0.6% of all pregnancies.
The aim of our study is to evaluate the trend of renal dysfunction in HELLP syndrome patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Maternal and
Child Health, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, during the period of 12 months from January 2013 to December 2013.
All patients with HELLP syndrome were included in the study and their renal function tests monitored.
RESULTS
Results were renal dysfunction prevalence in HELLP syndrome patients is 77%. The renal impairment recovered by 6 days on
an average. All had normal renal function tests at the time of discharge. Patients with renal function derangement had a mean
duration of hospital stay and transfusion requirements more than the patients without renal function derangement, which was
statistically significant (p value 0.036). Haemodialysis required for one out of 60 patients. One maternal mortality due to acute
renal failure.
CONCLUSION
As the prevalence of renal dysfunction is high, some amount of renal impairment maybe a part of the HELLP syndrome disease
spectrum itself. Though the incidence of progression to acute renal failure and dialysis is less, this is the important cause of
morbidity and mortality in HELLP syndrome patients.

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