Aim: In this study, we investigated the course of subsequent pregnancies in patients with HELLP syndrome and the development of chronic maternal diseases.
Results: The study population consisted of 50 patients who were treated for HELLP syndrome at 1(st) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2004. There were 35 subsequent pregnancies in 25 patients. Of these there were seven miscarriages, one mid-trimester loss. The incidence of premature birth was 40.7%, and neonatal mortality 7.4%. Preeclampsia recurred in twelve pregnancies; it was mild in eight and severe in four cases. HELLP syndrome re-occurred four times in three patients (14.28%). Recurrent hypertension was observed in 24% of the pregnancies.
Conclusions: Pregnancies after a previous pregnancy complicated by HELLP syndrome carry not only an increased chance for HELLP syndrome but also the development of other pathological obstetric conditions and chronic maternal diseases. Hypertension was found to be a maternal disease of increased incidence (24%) in subsequent pregnancies.