HELLP Syndrome
What is HELLP Syndrome?
HELLP syndrome is a serious pregnancy complication that affects your liver and blood cells. The name stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets. Hemolysis means red blood cells break down too quickly. Elevated liver enzymes signal liver damage. Low platelets make it harder for your blood to clot.
This condition usually develops in the third trimester of pregnancy. It can also appear within 48 hours after delivery. HELLP syndrome affects about 1 in 1,000 pregnancies. It often occurs alongside preeclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Without quick treatment, HELLP syndrome can lead to severe complications for both mother and baby. These include liver rupture, kidney failure, and bleeding problems. Early detection through blood testing gives healthcare providers time to manage the condition and protect both lives.
Symptoms
- Pain in the upper right side of your belly, often severe
- Nausea and vomiting that feels worse than typical morning sickness
- Headaches that do not go away with rest
- Vision changes including blurred vision or seeing spots
- Swelling in your face, hands, or legs
- Fatigue that feels extreme and different from normal pregnancy tiredness
- Bleeding or bruising more easily than usual
- Dark urine or light colored stools
Some women with early HELLP syndrome have no symptoms at all. Others mistake the warning signs for normal pregnancy discomfort. This is why routine blood testing during pregnancy is so important. The condition can progress quickly, sometimes within hours.
Concerned about HELLP Syndrome? Check your levels.
Screen for 1,200+ health conditions
Causes and risk factors
Doctors do not fully understand what causes HELLP syndrome. Research suggests it may result from problems with the placenta and blood vessels during pregnancy. The condition seems to involve inflammation and damage to blood vessel walls. This triggers a cascade of problems including liver injury and platelet destruction.
Certain factors increase your risk of developing HELLP syndrome. These include having preeclampsia, being over age 25 during pregnancy, being pregnant with multiples, and having had HELLP in a previous pregnancy. Women with autoimmune conditions or a history of high blood pressure face higher risk. White women and those who have had multiple pregnancies also show increased rates of HELLP syndrome.
How it's diagnosed
Healthcare providers diagnose HELLP syndrome through blood tests that measure three key markers. Platelet count drops below 100,000 per microliter when HELLP is present. Aspartate aminotransferase, or AST, rises above 70 units per liter due to liver cell damage. Bilirubin levels increase as red blood cells break down faster than normal.
Rite Aid offers testing for the critical biomarkers used to detect and monitor HELLP syndrome at Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide. If you are pregnant and experiencing symptoms like severe belly pain or persistent headaches, talk to your healthcare provider right away. They can order blood work to check your liver function, platelet count, and signs of hemolysis. Early detection allows for faster treatment decisions.
Treatment options
- Delivery of the baby is the only definitive cure for HELLP syndrome
- Blood pressure medications to control hypertension and reduce risk of stroke
- Corticosteroid injections to help mature baby's lungs if delivery is early
- Magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures during and after delivery
- Blood transfusions if platelet counts or red blood cells drop dangerously low
- Close monitoring in the hospital with frequent blood tests
- Bed rest and reduced activity until delivery can be safely performed
Treatment decisions depend on how far along your pregnancy is and how severe your symptoms are. If you are near full term, delivery usually happens right away. Earlier in pregnancy, doctors weigh the risks of early delivery against the risks of continuing the pregnancy. Most women need to stay in the hospital for monitoring. After delivery, symptoms typically improve within 48 to 72 hours. Your healthcare team will continue blood testing to track your recovery.
Concerned about HELLP Syndrome? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Yes, about 15 to 20 percent of women with HELLP syndrome never develop preeclampsia. However, most cases do occur alongside preeclampsia or eclampsia. The two conditions share similar root causes related to blood vessel and placenta problems. You can have HELLP even with normal blood pressure.
HELLP syndrome can develop very rapidly, sometimes within hours. Many women feel fine one day and seriously ill the next. This is why regular prenatal checkups and blood testing are critical in the third trimester. If you notice symptoms like severe belly pain or vision changes, seek medical care immediately.
Your risk of developing HELLP in a future pregnancy ranges from 2 to 19 percent if you had it before. This is much higher than the general population risk. Your healthcare provider will monitor you closely with more frequent blood tests in future pregnancies. Early detection and planning can help manage risks.
Preeclampsia involves high blood pressure and often protein in the urine during pregnancy. HELLP syndrome specifically affects your liver and blood cells. HELLP causes liver enzyme elevation, red blood cell destruction, and dangerously low platelets. Many women have both conditions together, but each can occur alone.
Most cases of HELLP syndrome develop between 27 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. About 30 percent of cases occur after delivery, usually within 48 hours. Rarely, symptoms can begin earlier in the second trimester. Post delivery cases can be especially dangerous because women may be discharged before symptoms appear.
HELLP syndrome is diagnosed when platelet counts fall below 100,000 per microliter of blood. Normal platelet counts range from 150,000 to 400,000 per microliter. Severe cases may see platelets drop below 50,000. Low platelets increase bleeding risk, especially during and after delivery.
AST levels typically rise above 70 units per liter in HELLP syndrome. Many women see AST climb above 150 units per liter as liver damage worsens. Normal AST levels stay below 40 units per liter. Rising liver enzymes signal hepatocellular necrosis, which means liver cells are dying.
No specific diet or lifestyle change is proven to prevent HELLP syndrome. However, maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy and managing existing high blood pressure may reduce risk. Taking low dose aspirin early in pregnancy may help for women with high risk factors. Focus on regular prenatal care and blood testing for early detection.
Most women see blood test results improve within 48 to 72 hours after delivery. Platelet counts usually normalize within 6 days. Liver enzymes can take several weeks to return to normal ranges. Your provider will order follow up blood tests to track your recovery and ensure complete healing.
Yes, HELLP syndrome can be life threatening without proper treatment. Maternal death rates range from 1 to 3 percent. Serious complications include liver rupture, stroke, kidney failure, and severe bleeding. The condition also increases risks for the baby including preterm birth and low birth weight. Quick diagnosis and delivery usually lead to good outcomes for both mother and baby.