Liver Injury in Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelets Syndrome Measured by Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate acute liver injury (ALI) detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the associated laboratory findings in women with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome. Study Design This was a retrospective, observational study of women with HELLP syndrome defined by serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels ≥100 U/L and thrombocytopenia with platelets ≤100,000/µL. All women underwent MRI postpartum including diffusion-weighted imaging to estimate the volume of ALI with reconstructed apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. The ADC map and the volume of ALI were compared with laboratory abnormalities by Spearman's correlation analysis. Results From March 2013 through August 2015, 16 women with HELLP syndrome underwent MRI, and of these, 14 (88%) women had areas of increased signal intensity suggestive of ALI. Their median (range) maximum AST level was 262 (140–1,958) IU/L, and at the time of MRI, AST was 103 (36–1,426) IU/L. Both of these AST levels significantly correlated with ADC map as well as the volume of ALI (both p-values <0.001). Conclusion Women with HELLP syndrome frequently exhibited areas of abnormal diffusion in the liver on diffusion-weighted MRI, suggestive of ALI. The extent of liver injury was significantly correlated with serum AST.