The key difference between Hellp syndrome and preeclampsia is that Hellp syndrome is a rare condition mainly characterized by elevated liver enzymes and low platelet counts during pregnancy, while preeclampsia syndrome is a condition mainly characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria during pregnancy.
Hellp syndrome and preeclampsia are medical conditions that occur during pregnancy. Prenatal visits to health care provider are very important as it helps identify health problems early and take steps to manage them. This ultimately protects the health of the mother and the developing fetus.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hellp Syndrome
3. What is Preeclampsia
4. Similarities – Hellp Syndrome and Preeclampsia
5. Hellp Syndrome vs Preeclampsia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hellp Syndrome vs Preeclampsia
What is Hellp Syndrome?
Hellp syndrome is a condition that occurs during pregnancy. It is mainly characterized by blood and liver problems. The name HELLP syndrome stands for H (hemolysis- breaking down of red blood cells), EL (elevated liver enzymes), and LP (low platelet counts). Hellp syndrome is a very rare condition that occurs in 0.1% to 1% of pregnancies. The symptoms of HELLP syndrome often come very quickly and include fatigue, blurred vision, sudden weight gain, swelling in the face and hands, headaches, nausea and vomiting, seizures, pain in the upper part of the abdomen, nose bleeding, and bleeding that does not stop. The actual cause of HELLP is not known. However, women suffering from preeclampsia or eclampsia have a higher risk of HELLP syndrome. The other risk factors include age (women over 25 have a higher risk), previous history of HELLP syndrome, previous labor and delivery, and race (white women have a higher risk).
HELLP syndrome can be diagnosed through physical examination and other tests for detecting high blood pressure, pain in the upper side of the abdomen, enlarged liver, blood platelet count, swollen legs, liver function, and bleeding into the liver. Furthermore, treatment options for HELLP syndrome include giving birth to the baby as soon as possible, taking corticosteroid medication that helps the baby’s lungs develop pretty quickly, and taking medications to prevent seizures and blood transfusion.
What is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication usually characterized by high blood pressure and high levels of protein in the urine (proteinuria), which indicates kidney damage. It often begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women who earlier had blood pressure in the normal range. The signs and symptoms of preeclampsia include high blood pressure, excess protein in the urine, thrombocytopenia, increased liver enzymes indicating liver problems, blurred vision or light sensitivity, temporary loss of vision, pain in the upper part of the belly, severe headaches, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting. Preeclampsia is caused due to defective blood vessels in the placenta that don’t seem to develop or work properly.
The risk factors in this condition include preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, being pregnant with more than one baby, chronic hypertension, type 1 and type 2 diabetes before pregnancy, kidney diseases, autoimmune diseases, and the use of in vitro fertilization.
Preeclampsia can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, urine analysis, fetal ultrasound, and non-stress or biophysical profile. Furthermore, the treatment options for preeclampsia may include delivering the baby or managing preeclampsia until the best time to deliver the baby, medications such as antihypertensive drugs (lower blood pressure), anticonvulsant medication for seizures (magnesium sulfate), and corticosteroids to promote the development of the baby’s lungs before delivery.
What are the Similarities Between Hellp Syndrome and Preeclampsia?
- Hellp syndrome and preeclampsia are medical conditions that occur during pregnancy.
- Having preeclampsia is a risk factor for developing Hellp syndrome.
- Both conditions may have similar symptoms, such as low levels of platelets, low levels of liver enzymes that indicate liver problems, pain in the upper part of the belly, nausea, and vomiting,
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
- They are treated by helping the delivery of the baby as soon as possible and specific medications like corticosteroids that promote the development of the baby’s lungs before delivery.
What is the Difference Between Hellp Syndrome and Preeclampsia?
Hellp syndrome is a condition that occurs in pregnancy that is mainly characterized by blood and liver problems, while preeclampsia syndrome is a condition that occurs in pregnancy and is mainly characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria. Thus, this is the key difference between Hellp syndrome and preeclampsia. Furthermore, Hellp syndrome is a rare pregnancy condition, while preeclampsia is a common pregnancy condition.
The following table summarizes the difference between Hellp syndrome and preeclampsia.
Summary – Hellp Syndrome vs Preeclampsia
Hellp syndrome and preeclampsia are medical conditions that occur during pregnancy. These conditions can cause numerous pregnancy complications. Hellp syndrome is a condition that occurs in pregnancy and is mainly characterized by blood and liver problems, while preeclampsia syndrome is a condition that occurs in pregnancy and is mainly characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria. So, this summarizes the difference between Hellp syndrome and preeclampsia.
Reference:
1. “Preeclampsia: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Hellp Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Treatment of severe preeclampsia” By Dr.Vijaya chandar – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Subkapsulaeres Haematom bei HELLP-Syndrom – Sono – 001” By Hellerhoff – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia