Severe Early Onset Preeclampsia (PET) or HELLP Syndrome Before the age of Viability - Abstract
HELLP syndrome is a life-threatening condition, thought to be a type of severe preeclampsia, characterized by Haemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), Elevated Liver enzymes (which indicate liver damage), and Low Platelet counts. This is a case of a woman who presented at 20+5 weeks gestation with HELLP syndrome, highlighting the occurrence of this condition before the limit of viability. This case report aims to emphasise the need to be vigilant that PET / HELLP syndrome can occur in very early gestation albeit rare. Aggressive management with magnesium sulphate, intravenous antihypertensives and pregnancy termination, in this case, prevented the poor maternal outcome. It also highlights the need to have a difficult conversation around the need for the termination of pregnancy as the only means to avoid a poor maternal outcome in fulminant cases.