HELLP syndrome in the 18th week of gestation in association with elevated angiotensin AT(1)-receptor autoantibodies.

We present a 24-year-old woman with a twin pregnancy who was with a typical HELLP syndrome at the 18th week of pregnancy. One fetus was dead, while the other was severely growth retarded. Our patient had agonistic autoantibodies directed at the angiotensin AT(1)-receptor. Termination of the pregnancy proved necessary. This report is the first to our knowledge associating HELLP syndrome with angiotensin AT(1)-receptor antibodies. Since the antibodies may have a pathogenic significance, their removal could permit the prolongation of pregnancy in preeclamptic and HELLP syndrome patients.