Hallazgos clínicos y de laboratorio que sugieren tempranamente el síndrome de HELLP en pacientes con preeclampsia severa

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of precociously altered clinical and laboratory tests for the diagnosis of HELLP in patients with severe preeclampsia. Methods: An observational study was performed, utility of diagnostic tests, based on a clinical cohort which included pregnant women diagnosed with severe preeclampsia admitted between May 4, 2005 and May 7, 2008 in the Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana was conducted. Comparison was made between the two groups (HELLP and non HELLP) on the assessed variables. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and the LR (+ and -) and their 95% CI were calculated, comparing each of the clinical variables with the golden standard test: final diagnosis of HELLP. ROC curves were performed for the laboratory quantitative tests during hospitalization to identify which is the laboratory parameter that best determines the development of HELLP syndrome. Results: Epigastrium pain was the most important predictive factor in clinical patients with severe preeclampsia who developed HELLP with a value of p<0.0001. The values of laboratory tests and transaminases conducted at admission were significantly higher in patients with severe preeclampsia who developed HELLP syndrome. Conclusion: This study found that in patients diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, the presence of epigastric pain and / or transaminases are findings suggest the early development of HELLP syndrome, for that reason changes of liver tests and the presence of epigastric pain should be actively tracked in this group of patients.