Severe preeclampsia with fulminant and extreme elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels: high risk for maternal death

We report a subgroup of patients with fulminant hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome, manifesting extreme elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST; SGOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and abnormal mental status. These gravidas are at high risk for mortality. Only four patients treated by the authors over a 10-year period have had AST more than 2000 IU/L and LDH more than 3000 IU/L in the HELLP syndrome. This report is based on retrospective chart review. All patients manifested disordered mental status, jaundice, intense hemolysis, and extreme hypertension. One patient had developed multiple organ system failure, was moribund at initial perinatal consultation, and died. The three others were treated with aggressive afterload reduction and plasma infusion or plasmapheresis; two survived. Fulminant HELLP syndrome occurs rarely, but marks a group of patients at high risk for mortality. Optimal therapy is unclear; early intervention, including afterload reduction, volume expansion, and consideration of plasma infusions or plasmapheresis, is recommended.