Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, Low Platelets Syndrome Superimposed on Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Abstract A pregnancy complicated by typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome is reported. At 20 weeks of gestation, a case of HUS was diagnosed, with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli identified. Plasmapheresis allowed continu...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Inês Martins, Madalena Gomes Conceição, Paulo Pereira Gomes, Nuno Clode
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Federação Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia 2017-04-01
Series:Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-72032017000400195&tlng=en
Description
Summary:Abstract A pregnancy complicated by typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome is reported. At 20 weeks of gestation, a case of HUS was diagnosed, with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli identified. Plasmapheresis allowed continuation of the pregnancy for 5 weeks. Superimposed preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome were diagnosed after the establishment of nephrotic range proteinuria, hypertension and recurrence of hemolysis. This is a singular case, as it demonstrates that HELLP syndrome can superimpose upon HUS, a fact that can impact future research on reproductive immunology. It also reminds clinicians that the overlapping of clinical and laboratory findings in HELLP syndrome makes the diagnosis of other thrombotic microangiopathies during pregnancy a clinical challenge.
ISSN:0100-7203