HELLP Syndrome in Pregnant Women: Risks, Effects & Prevention - Essay Sample

Introduction

Hemolysis, elevated liver functions, and low platelets (HELLP) affect pregnant women with Preeclampsia/eclampsia since the situation increases blood sugar levels and may damage other organs, such as liver and kidneys, exposing pregnant mothers to the HELLP. Also, it blocks the placenta from getting adequate blood, affecting the health status of the unborn child. Further, HELLP affects pregnant women with Preeclampsia/eclampsia due to the lack of stability in proteins, as well as causing legs to swell; thus, affecting effective flow of blood and this causes health issues, such as seizures, as well as gaining weight suddenly (Rimaitis, Grauslyte, Zavackiene, Baliuliene, Nadisauskiene & Macas, 2019). Since it causes blockages to some veins, it affects the flow of blood, causing headaches and fatigue. Therefore, there is a direct link between Preeclampsia and HELLP although signs and symptoms are almost the same.

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Decreased Platelets

Low platelets correlate with laboratory values for HELLP syndrome because of the destruction that occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy affecting its manufacture. The first reason explaining this value is that there is an increase of platelets through bleeding while the manufacture declines. One of the symptoms of HELLP syndrome is bleeding that may begin in the last three months of pregnancy and if not managed can lead to an early birth. Secondly, the syndrome damages other organs, such as kidneys and the liver; thus, affecting the production of platelets (Rimaitis et al., 2019). It is worth to note that body functions well when all organs are healthy and functioning well. In this context, damaging the organs and other signs and symptoms, such as swelling of the body and rapid gain of body weight affects the floor of blood throughout the body. Additionally, one of the functions of the body is to produce antibodies to protect against foreign substances and infections. Sometimes the antibodies target their own tissues in a process called autoimmunity. The process damages platelets, leading to a low count considering that the production is low because of the HELLP syndrome.

Prompt Delivery

Prompt delivery is the best choice for expectant mothers with HELLP syndrome since it is safe and protects the health of the mother and the child to be born. The objective is to protect the lives through successful early delivery. After 34 weeks, all the organs of the unborn child have developed. Failing to deliver immediately would complicate the pregnancy (Kinay, Kucuk, Kayikcioglu & Karakaya, 2015). For example, it would lead to blood clotting, leading to maternal hemorrhage and fluids can build up in other organs, like the lungs and this will make breathing difficult, threatening the lives of the mother and the child. In extreme cases, it will lead to lung failure and liver raupture, causing deaths. However, doctors must ensure the mother meets certain conditions before delivery. They include providing appropriate medication to manage blood pressure and blood transfusion if the count of platelets is low than the recommended count. Also, the doctors must closely monitor the condition of the fetal and the mother. Furthermore, the administration of corticosteroid may be necessary as doctors recommend, preparing the lungs of the fetus for an outside environment.

Experience HELLP in A Subsequent Pregnancy

The HELLP syndrome experience traumatizes victims. Its aftermath effects include fear and complication with own health. Victims keep revisiting why they were victims of the condition. Post-exposure experience is one of the risk factors of subsequent pregnancies. Their fears in subsequent pregnancies affect their health statutes that eventually lead to blood pressure. However, medical practitioners argue that their experience in the subsequent pregnancies depends on the time when the incident happened. A long period before another pregnancy minimizes the post-traumatic experience since victims tend to forget about their past pregnancy (Cohen & O'Brien, 2015). However, other factors contribute to the probability of developing the condition again. They include a history of blood pressure, health conditions, such as kidney disease and the history of preeclampsia. Therefore, expectant mothers should discuss with their healthcare professionals to identify potential risk factors and propose effective management practices. Also, victims should undergo guidance and counseling after delivery to overcome the traumatic experience.

Improve Laboratory Values

Corticosteroid therapy will improve laboratory values since it stabilizes lactic dehydrogenate, increases platelet count, alanine aminotransferase, and blood pressure. As discussed above, HELLP syndrome has various signs and symptoms, including a decline in platelets and unstable blood pressure. Corticosteroid therapy will stabilize laboratory values by increasing platelet count and alanine aminotransferase. In the process, it minimizes blood transfusion while improving the health status of the patients (Mao & Chen, 2015). Corticosteroid therapy prevents the consumption of platelets and the destruction of erythrocyte. In the process, it stabilizes endothelium; thus, reducing products required to administer blood pressure. The recovery of damaged or lost platelets begins as early as twelve hours after the administration of Corticosteroid therapy. However, the therapy should begin as early as possible to avoid putting the patient at higher dangers of maternal mortality.

References

Cohen, H., & O'Brien, P. (2015). Disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis in pregnancy: A guide to management. New York: Springer.

Kinay, T., Kucuk, C., Kayikcioglu, F., & Karakaya, J. (2015). Severe Preeclampsia versus HELLP Syndrome: Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes at <34 and 34 Weeks' Gestation. Balkan Medical Journal, 32(4): 359-363.

Mao, M., & Chen, C. (2015). Corticosteroid Therapy for Management of Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelet Count (HELLP) Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis. Medical Science Monitor, 21(2015), 3777-3783.

Rimaitis, K., Grauslyte, L., Zavackiene, A., Baliuliene, V., Nadisauskiene, R., & Macas, A. (2019). Diagnosis of HELLP Syndrome: A 10-Year Survey in a Perinatology Centre. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(1), 1-9.