Maternal and perinatal outcomes of eclampsia with and without HELLP syndrome in a teaching hospital in western Turkey

Abstract

In this study, we compared the perinatal and maternal outcomes of women with eclampsia with and without HELLP syndrome. A total of 219 pregnancies complicated by eclampsia with and without HELLP syndrome managed between January 2002 and December 2011, were reviewed. The incidence of eclampsia was 1.7/1,000 deliveries. Among 219 patients with eclampsia, 141 (64.4%) did not develop HELLP syndrome and 78 (35.6%) did develop HELLP syndrome. Maternal age and the rates of nulliparity were similar in both groups. Interval time from eclamptic seizure to delivery was significantly longer in the without-HELLP syndrome group (0.92 +/- 0.29 weeks vs 0.16 +/- 0.12 weeks, p = 0.028). Furthermore, overall perinatal mortality (particularly after gestational week 32) was significantly higher in the with HELLP syndrome group (20.5% vs 9.9%, p = 0.029). In conclusion, patients with HELLP syndrome had signifi cantly higher perinatal mortality than those with eclampsia without HELLP syndrome and no regular prenatal care.