HELLP Syndrome: a biopsychosocial case report

Abstract

This case concerns a 30 year old female patient (HS), G2P1 (2 gravidity, 1 parity), who was admitted to the high dependency unit at Cork University Maternity Hospital in Cork, Ireland at 37 weeks and 1 days’ gestation. She was admitted after experiencing a 5 minute tonic-clonic seizure at home with no obvious relieving factors. Relevant positive symptoms included nausea, headache, and right hypochondrial pain. Relevant negative symptoms included denying tongue biting, incontinence, speech or visual disturbances, sensory or mental aura, vomiting and cyanosis. There were no drugs, trauma, recent illness or history of previous seizures. On examination, HS was confused and displayed signs consistent with pregnancy. In addition, a focused examination revealed hypertension, hyperreflexia, right hypochondrial pain, and lower limb oedema. The investigations included a urine dipstick, CT scan and blood tests which showed anaemia, low platelets and proteinuria. The history, examination and investigations in this case were consistent with a presentation of HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets) syndrome.  In this case report, the biopsychosocial aspects of the patient’s recovery are discussed.