Pregnancy induced hypertension complicated by thrombocytopenia, haemolysis and elevated liver enzymes (HELLP) syndrome. Renal biopsies and outcome.

Twelve patients are presented with the symptomatology of haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP syndrome). Only 3 patients experienced a progressive course; the rest did not differ from a group of 130 patients suffering from severe preeclampsia. There was no significant difference in the concentration of plasma fibrinogen, fibrinogen monomer complex and antithrombin III. Two patients were treated with heparin without improvement of the coagulation data or the severity of the disease. The subgrouping of very severe preeclampsia may be desirable, but it is felt that this group is insufficiently characterized by the symptomatology of HELLP. The evaluation of better criteria may allow identification of subgroups of preeclamptic patients with severe prognostic criteria.