HELLP or Help: A Real Challenge.

OBJECTIVES To ascertain the prevalence, presentation, diagnosis, severity, and complications of HELLP syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a prospective observational study analyzing the conditions and the data of 24 cases of HELLP syndrome in a tertiary care hospital. The analysis was done for the demographic characteristics, presentation of these patients, complications associated, and the perinatal outcome. RESULTS 0.45 % of the patients admitted for delivery developed HELLP syndrome. Majority of the patients developed the condition in 30-36 weeks period of gestation, while five patients developed it in the postpartum period. The condition led to 12.5 % of maternal and 45.8 % of perinatal mortality. CONCLUSION HELLP syndrome is an important cause for maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.