Pregnancy syndrome risks maternal and fetal death

A first-time pregnant woman began to experience right sided abdominal pain and fatigue towards her final trimester, which was diagnosed as HELLP syndrome, a potentially fatal pregnancy related triad of symptoms. HELLP stands for hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count, which is related to pre-eclampsia. Both are caused by unknown factors and can be reversed with delivery of the baby. HELLP is diagnosed by its symptoms and clinical examination, blood tests further support the diagnosis, but it cannot be predicted. It results in death in 1-3% of mothers who are diagnosed with the condition, but it can have lasting effects with end organ failure, including lung, kidney and liver disease. Babies also suffer fatalities directly due to the syndrome and as a result of being born premature, with a 7-20% death rate. They are also at risk of cerebral palsy, blood clots, gastrointestinal problems and premature lung diseases. Symptoms to look out for in pregnant mothers include headaches, extreme fatigue, swelling of body parts, and upper abdomen pain, which can rapidly lead to irreversible organ damage and death.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Indystar.com

Related Disease Topics:

• HELLP syndrome
• Pre-eclampsia
• End organ failure
• Lung disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Blood clots
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Premature lung diseases
• Organ damage
• Pregnancy

Related Symptom Topics:

• Headaches
• Extreme fatigue
• Swelling of body parts
• Upper abdomen pain
• Death

Article Source Details

About: Pregnancy syndrome risks maternal and fetal death

Date: 29 November 2005

Source: Indystar.com

Author: Ellen Crowley Fullerton

URL: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051129/LIVING01/511290347/1083

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Cause of HELLP syndrome
• Cause of pre-eclampsia
• Cause of end organ failure
• Cause of lung disease
• Cause of kidney disease
• Cause of liver disease
• Cause of cerebral palsy
• Cause of blood clots
• Cause of liver failure
• Cause of gastrointestinal problems
• Cause of premature lung diseases
• Cause of organ damage
• Cause of pregnancy
• Cause of prematurity
• Cause of c section
• Cause of premature delivery
• Cause of headaches
• Cause of malaise
• Cause of extreme fatigue
• Cause of edema
• Cause of swelling of body parts
• Cause of upper abdomen pain
• Cause of maternal death
• Cause of fetal death
• Risk and prematurity
• Risk and premature delivery
• Risk and HELLP syndrome
• Risk and pre-eclampsia
• Risk and liver failure
• Death from HELLP syndrome
• Death from pre-eclampsia
• Death from end organ failure
• Death from lung disease
• Death from kidney disease
• Death from liver disease
• Death from cerebral palsy
• Death from blood clots
• Death from gastrointestinal problems
• Death from premature lung diseases
• Death from organ damage
• Death from pregnancy
• Death from prematurity
• Death from premature delivery
• Death from liver failure

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