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HELLP syndrome - Symptom

Symptoms:

Fatigue or feeling unwell
Fluid retention and excess weight gain
Headache
Nausea and vomiting that continues to get worse
Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen
Blurry vision
Nosebleed or other bleeding that won't stop easily (rare)
Seizures or convulsions (rare)

Signs and tests:

During a physical examination, the doctor may discover:

Abdominal tenderness, especially in the right upper side
Enlarged liver
High blood pressure
Swelling in the legs

Liver function tests (liver enzymes) may be high. Platelet counts may be low. A CT scan may show bleeding into the liver.

Tests of the baby's health will be done.

Preeclampsia

Reviewed last on: 11/21/2010
Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Sibai BM. Hypertension. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, eds. Obstetrics - Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2007:chap 33.

Wakim-Fleming J. Liver disease in pregnancy. In: Carey WD, ed. Cleveland Clinic: Current Clinical Medicine 2010. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:section 6.

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