STANDARD PARAMETERS OF PREECLAMPSIA - CAN THE CLINICIAN DEPEND UPON THEM TO RELIABLY IDENTIFY THE PATIENT WITH THE HELLP-SYNDROME

Four hundred and fifty-four gravid women were identified with the HELL P syndrome from January, 1980 to May, 1992. The peak systolic and dias tolic blood pressures, proteinuria, and uric acid were recorded for ea ch patient during the peripartal course. Patients were classified acco rding to disease severity with, in addition to elevated lactate dehydr ogenase (LDH) values, laboratory evidence of haemolysis and hepatic dy sfunction, a peripartal platelet count less-than-or-equal-to 50,000/mu l was depicted Class I, Class II as a platelet count > 50,000 and less -than-or-equal-to 100,000/mul and Class III as > 100,000 and less-than -or-equal-to 150,000/mul. Patients with Class I HELLP syndrome had pea k antepartum systolic blood pressures <150 mm Hg significantly more of ten than the Class II (p<0.0091) or Class III (p < 0.04) HELP syndrome . Class I HELLP syndrome had significantly more patients with 1+ to 2 proteinuria than Class II (p < 0.02) and Class III HELLP syndrome (p < 0.009). Uric acid levels were not different among nor proportionatel y related to increasing severity of the HELLP syndrome.