What Are The Complications Of HELLP Syndrome During Pregnancy?

Posted on Sun, 8 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 8 Feb 2015 Answered on

Thu, 12 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Is there any long term effects of having HELLP syndrome while pregnant? My granddaughter had HELLP and they had to deliver the baby but he is fine. She got better over time and it has been 20 months now and she has been to the ER twice with very bad leg cramps, hips and up her back. Both times she had been sick like woke up vomiting and vomited all night. First time it was hard time breathing but no cough etc. The first time the convenient care doc did a blood test for D-Dimer and it came back .88 and she called her to go to ER immediately. Thought she had blood clot in lung. Well she was low on potassium so they gave her that with fluid and did a CT of her lungs which showed no clot. Her legs also hurt very bad. Said if she stood they felt better but if she sat they hurt worse. Followed up with doc and he did blood test then and it came back normal...well she got potassium in hospital with pills to take home. Now about 3 wks later she had the vomiting, fever and her legs, hips and back was hurting just like before but worse. Potassium was 3.0 and liver enzymes were elevated. Doc in ER did ultra sound on liver and said it was fine...So my question is could this low potassium, leg aches, hip aches, back aches and liver enzymes elevated be connected with the HELLP syndrome??? Her doc told her to come back when she was well and he would recheck it all again but he didnt. Just told her he did blood work when she came in (sick) and it came back normal. sure after being given potassium in ER why wouldn't it...So he never checked her potassium or liver or D-Dimer.....Shouldn't they be checking all of this. She is on birth control pills because her OB did the blood work at 6 wks and D-Dimer wasn't right but had her go do it again just in case it was wrong and it was ok so she put her on pills. I am just worried that these doctors are not completely watching her after this HELLP she had...Can't find anything on long terms effects and think there should be more studies done on it or something. Or even have a doc who knows anything about it except once you had it you can have it again if you get pregnant...Are there any specialists out there??? who handle this???

Answered by Dr. Som Biswas (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
dint give birth control pills

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I can understand your concerns.

I have been studying and treating patients with Hellp for many years.

It does not have any long term effects as you correctly said.

Yes I too believe More studies need to be done but the disease itself is rare so we can't have very big studies On it.

Chances of having it in next pregnancy is higher.

From what you have written, it seems she has something totally unrelated to her HELLP.

It sound more like a potassium losing disorder of her kidneys.

One possibility is that probably HELLP due to picturereeclampsia had damaged her kidneys and that might be her cause of losing potassium.

I will advise you to get her checked by a good Nephrologist and endocrine specialist.

The Pain in her hips and vomiting is related to Low potassium.

Please don't give her birth control pills. They are not safe in her case.

Regards

Dr Som MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D