Epidemiology

"How common is this?"

Now that we've introduced you to HELLP syndrome, this blog is going to take a week by week look a little more in depth at some of the aspects of the syndrome and how prevalent it is, as well as diagnosis and treatment (but more about that later)!

For now lets focus on the epidemiology and prevalence of the disease, and some of the risk factors associated with it.

Reports show that HELLP syndrome can occur in approximately 0.1- 0.6 of all pregnancies, and can occur in 10-20% of women with severe preeclapmsia/eclampsia (AAFP). While normally the symptoms of preeclampsia precede HELLP syndrome helping to lead to it's diagnosis, there can be 15-20% of patients that do not have any hypertension or proteinuria, which can mean a serious delay in diagnosis which can lead to hepatic problems such as infarction, hemorrhage, and rupture. The timing can also be misleading with 31% of patients developing the syndrome in the postpartum period (though symptoms usually onset within 48 hours after baby is born and up to 7 days).

What are some of the risk factors for developing HELLP?

• Sisters and offspring of women with a history of HELLP have been shown to be at increased risk. 
• Previous pregnancy with HELLP syndrome

Other factors include:

• Over age 30
• Caucasian
• Obesity
• Multiparous
• Poor diet
• Diabetes

In comparison with preeclampsia, those mothers to be under the age of 20 or over the age of 45, nulliparous, and have histories of high blood pressures.

While there is quite a bit of crossover, these of some of the distinctive factors that separate the two.

Your next questions may be- OK so how exactly does HELLP work within the body? Well, lets look at that next!



http://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0901/p829.html
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/hellp-syndrome
http://www.healthline.com/health/hellp-syndrome