European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

HELLP SYNDROME WITH HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY: A CASE REPORT

Dr. Anil Wanjari, Dr. Sanjivani Wanjari* and Dr. Smriti Baghel

ABSTRACT

HELLP is an acronym that refers to a syndrome characterized by haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and a low platelet count. Pregnancy associated liver diseases affect up to 3% of pregnant women and are the most frequent cause of liver dysfunction in pregnancy. We present a case of a patient with HELLP syndrome and hepatic encephalopathy following a normal delivery. Patient had a normal delivery at a peripheral hospital and had post-partum haemorrhage. She was referred to us with the complaints of abnormal behaviour, fever and pain in abdomen. A high index of suspicion should be kept for pregnant patients presenting with altered mental status, deranged liver function tests and coagulopathy. Hepatic encephalopathy can occur during pregnancy or post-partum period because of pre-eclampsia-related liver injury. Other causes for hepatic encephalopathy can be acute and chronic liver diseases, including acute viral hepatitis, acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Management of liver failure in pregnancy requires a multi-disciplinary approach with combined and coordinated effort by the intensivist, obstetrician, hepatologist and neonatologist.

Keywords: HELLP syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy, pregnancy.