Outcome of Patients Admitted to Obstetric Intensive Care Unit With Severe Preeclampsia, Eclampsia or HELLP Syndrome

Preeclampsia is a relatively common hypertensive disorder during pregnancy. Preeclampsia occurs in about 5%15% of all pregnant women, may cause dangerous complication and even death in the mother and fetus (1). In 5% of all cases, preeclampsia can progress toward eclampsia, and up to 19% of the cases present with HELLP syndrome, maternal and perinatal mortality can be increased (2). Severe preeclampsia and its associated complications are considered as the leading main indications for intensive care unit (ICU) admission (3-7). The most common indications for admission to the ICU of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension include but are not limited to refractory hypertension, neurological dysfunction (intracranial hemorrhage, seizures, and elevated intracranial pressure), liver or kidney dysfunction, pulmonary edema, HELLP syndrome, and/or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (2,8-10). There are several studies of critically ill obstetric patients, but little has been studied on the maternal and perinatal outcomes of patients with preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome (2,11). The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the frequency, indications, interventions and clinical outcomes of patients with severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome admitted to the ICU.