Liver function following pregnancy complicated by the HELLP syndrome |
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| Authors: | Maarten F. C. M. Knapen Clinical Research Fellow Anne M. van Altena Clinical Epidemiologist Wilbert H. M. Peters Biochemist Hans M. W. M. Merkus Professor Jan B. M. J. Jansen Professor Eric A. P. Steegers Consultant |
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| Affiliation: | Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Serum levels of aminotransferases, lactate dehydrogenase, gammaglutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin and conjugated bilirubin, measured in 54 women at a median of 31 months (range 3–101) after pregnancies complicated by the HELLP syndrome, were not elevated. Total bilirubin levels, however, were elevated in 20'1/0 of these women; this represents a significant difference from the prevalence in 151 women with a previous normal pregnancy ( χ2= 12.23 , P < 0.001 ), or in the normal female population ( χ2= 22.34 , P < 0.00001 ). This raises the possibility that a dysfunction of the bilirubin-conjugating mechanism represents a risk factor for the development of the HELLP syndrome. |
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