women s health issues
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
HELLP syndrome
The HELLP syndrome develops in 1 or 2 of 10 women with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia. The HELLP syndrome consists of the following: Hemolysis (the breakdown of red blood cells) Elevated levels of liver enzymes, indicating liver damage A low platelet count, making blood less able to clot and increasing the risk of bleeding during and after labor Most pregnant women with the HELLP syndrome have high blood pressure and protein in the urine, but some have neither. 