Ruptured subcapsular liver hematoma as a rare complication of HELLP syndrome. A therapeutic challenge.

HELLP syndrome (HS), a low-incidence condition of uncertain pathogenesis associated with pregnancy hypertensive syndromes, is characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count. Ruptured subcapsular liver hematoma complicated with hemoperitoneum is an uncommon but very serious condition where early recognition and multidisciplinary management are key to reduce its associated maternal, infant mortality rate. Symptoms are nonspecific, characterized by por epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting; clinical suspicion and appropriate imaging studies are of crucial importance. We report the case of a 36-year-old primiparous woman at 39 weeks of gestation. She was admitted for early membrane rupture, with delivery complicated by retained placenta. During the immediate puerperium she had blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg, epigastric pain and vomiting, which required respiratory and hemodynamic support. An exploratory laparotomy was performed that revealed a massive hemoperitoneum as well as CR in the RLL with multifocal active bleeding. The left liver lobe was macroscopically normal. The patient underwent hemoperitoneum drainage and hepatic packing (HP); biopsy findings were consistent with necrosis. Polytransfusion was initiated with blood products and antihemorrhagic agents.

Complement activation and regulation in preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome.

The complement system is critical to human health owing to its central role in host defense and innate immunity. During pregnancy, the complement system must be appropriately regulated to allow for immunologic tolerance to the developing fetus and placenta. Although some degree of complement activation can be seen in normal pregnancy, the fetus seems to be protected in part through the placental expression of complement regulatory proteins, which inhibit complement activation at different steps along the complement activation cascade. In women who develop preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome, there is a shift toward increased complement activation and decreased complement regulation. There is an increase in placental deposition of C5b-9, which is the terminal effector of classical, lectin, and alternative complement pathways. C5b-9 deposition stimulates trophoblasts to secrete soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, which sequesters vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor. Pathogenic mutations or deletions in complement regulatory genes, which predispose to increased complement activation, have been detected in women with preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome. Before the disease, biomarkers of alternative complement pathway activation are increased; during active disease, biomarkers of terminal complement pathway activation are increased. Urinary excretion of C5b-9 is associated with preeclampsia with severe features and distinguishes it from other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Taken together, existing data link preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome with increased activation of the terminal complement pathway that, in some cases, may be influenced by genetic alterations in complement regulators. These findings suggest that the inhibition of the terminal complement pathway, possibly through C5 blockade, may be an effective strategy to treat preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome, but this strategy warrants further evaluation in clinical trials.

Fas ligand neutralization attenuates hypertension, endothelin-1, and placental inflammation in an animal model of HELLP syndrome.

Neutralization of FasL is linked to suppression of hypertension, placental inflammation, and endothelin system activation in an animal model of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome. During HELLP syndrome the placenta has been reported to serve as the primary source of Fas ligand (FasL), which has an impact on inflammation and hypertension during pregnancy and is dysregulated in women with severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. We hypothesize that neutralization of FasL during pregnancy in an animal model of HELLP syndrome decreases inflammation and placental apoptosis, improves endothelial damage, and improves hypertension. On gestational day (GD) 12, rats were chronically infused with placental antiangiogenic factors sFlt-1 and sEng to induce HELLP syndrome. To neutralize FasL, MFL4 or FasL antibody was infused into a subset of HELLP or normal pregnant rats on GD13. IgG infusion into another group of NP and HELLP rats on GD13 was used as a control for FasL antibody, and all rats were euthanized on GD19 after blood pressure measurement. Plasma and placentas were collected to assess inflammation, apoptosis, and the degree of placental debris activation of endothelial cells. Administration of MFL4 to HELLP rats significantly decreased blood pressure compared with untreated HELLP rats and HELLP rats infused with IgG and improved the biochemistry of HELLP syndrome. Both circulating and placental FasL were significantly attenuated in response to MFL4 infusion, as were levels of placental and circulating TNFα when compared with untreated HELLP rats and HELLP rats infused with IgG. Endothelial cells exposed to placental debris and media from HP + MFL4 rats secreted significantly less endothelin-1 compared with stimulated endothelial cells from HELLP placentas. Neutralization of FasL is associated with decreased MAP and improvement in placental inflammation and endothelial damage in an animal model of HELLP syndrome.

Preterm Labor Caused by Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, Low Platelet Count (HELLP) Syndrome and Postpartum Infection Complicated with Actinomyces Species: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Actinomyces species are normal flora of the upper respiratory, female genital, and gastrointestinal tract. Actinomyces species are generally considered to have a low virulence potential. Here we report one case of Actinomyces viscosus isolated from a neonatal blood culture as a consequence of extreme prematurity in the presence of HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) syndrome. CASE REPORT A 23-week gestational age female infant was born to a 32-year-old mother. The pregnancy was complicated by severe HELLP syndrome leading to cesarean section at 23-week gestation. The initial blood culture grew anaerobic gram-positive branching rods consistent with Actinomyces species. Due to patient instability, antibiotic was started and continued for a total of 13 days. On day of life 26, the reference laboratory identified the organism as A. viscosus by 16S ribosomal RNA. CONCLUSIONS In this case, Actinomyces species was a consequence of HELLP syndrome and consecutive extreme prematurity. Further research to look more closely at Actinomyces species isolated from neonatal blood culture will help to elucidate the true significance of these isolates.

Stop! Check your initial assumptions: Frozen patient management in obstetrical practice.

At times, leaping from one patient management routine to an alternative one may be required to mitigate medical errors. "Frozen patient management" is the resultant situation, when, in the face of an obvious gap between the expected and the actual phenomena, leaping from current patient management to an alternative one is not considered or done. Frozen patient management can lead to a significant delay of the correct definitive intervention, be it surgical or pharmacological. The significance of this delay is especially important in time-dependent dynamic situations. In delivery ward, this may cost the life of either the fetus or the mother.In this study, we describe a sequence in which frozen patient management occurred in the delivery ward. Using "thinking protocol" (herein termed "de-freezing" questionnaire) made the team stop and consider a leap when gaps became apparent, and saved the mother's life.We believe that adopting the "de-freezing questionnaire" as a routine adjunct for all medical activities would lead to a timely change of treatment line, which, in turn, will save lives and unnecessary suffer.

Inhibition of T-cell activation attenuates hypertension, TNFα, IL-17, and blood-brain barrier permeability in pregnant rats with angiogenic imbalance.

PROBLEM: Angiogenic imbalance during pregnancy is associated with immune activation, hypertension, increased T cell infiltration, and neurological insults. METHOD OF STUDY: On gestational day (GD) 12, timed-pregnant rats were infused with anti-angiogenic factors sFlt-1 and sEndoglin (4.7 and 7 µg/kg) to create HELLP syndrome via mini-osmotic pumps for 8 days, with a subset of these rats having Orencia (2 mg/kg) infused on GD13. On GD19, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was evaluated via Evan's Blue infusion, blood was collected for T-cell measurements, inflammatory cytokine secretion. Brain tissues were also collected to examine inflammatory cytokine infiltration. RESULTS: T-cell attenuation with Orencia decreased circulating CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and IL-17, BBB permeability and significantly decreased biochemical evidence of HELLP compared to untreated HELLP rats. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that T cells have a critical role in contributing to the pathophysiology that is seen in angiogenic imbalance during pregnancy.

Seeking the mechanism(s) of action for corticosteroids in HELLP syndrome: SMASH study.

INTRODUCTION: Administration of dexamethasone to the hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome patients (10 mg intravenously [IV] every 12 hours) shortens the disease course and reduces maternal morbidity in patients treated at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), associated with this severe form of preeclampsia. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms involved with this intervention remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the potential role of IV dexamethasone to restore the imbalance among antiangiogenic and inflammatory factors known to be significantly elevated in women with HELLP syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: This was a single-center prospective study of women diagnosed with HELLP syndrome who were treated for IV dexamethasone at UMMC. Blood was drawn prior to dexamethasone administration and again 12 and 24 hours after the initial dexamethasone administration. Enzyme-linked immune assays were used to measure circulating inflammatory cytokines and antiangiogenic factors. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data collected before, after, and during dexamethasone administration. RESULTS: Seventeen women with HELLP syndrome were enrolled in this study. Dexamethasone significantly decreased evidence of hemolysis (P = .002) and liver enzymes (P = .003), and significantly increased platelets (P = .0001) within 24 hours of administration. Circulating interleukin-6 levels after 24 hours were decreased (P < .001); soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and soluble endoglin were also significantly decreased by 24 hours after dexamethasone administration (P < .002 and P < .004, respectively). There were no significant differences in circulating levels of placental growth factor (P = .886) due to dexamethasone administration. Angiotensin II receptor autoantibody levels were unchanged by dexamethasone administration. CONCLUSION: We conclude that 1 important mechanism of dexamethasone administration is to blunt the release of both antiangiogenic and inflammatory factors suggested to play role in the pathophysiology of HELLP syndrome.

How I treat thrombocytopenia in pregnancy.

A mild thrombocytopenia is relatively frequent during pregnancy and has generally no consequences for either the mother or the fetus. Although representing no threat in the majority of patients, thrombocytopenia may result from a range of pathologic conditions requiring closer monitoring and possible therapy. Two clinical scenarios are particularly relevant for their prevalence and the issues relating to their management. The first is the presence of isolated thrombocytopenia and the differential diagnosis between primary immune thrombocytopenia and gestational thrombocytopenia. The second is thrombocytopenia associated with preeclampsia and its look-alikes and their distinction from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and the hemolytic uremic syndrome. In this review, we describe a systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of these disease entities using a case presentation format. Our discussion includes the antenatal and perinatal management of both the mother and fetus.

Early pancreatic panniculitis associated with HELLP syndrome and acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Pancreatic panniculitis represents a rare cutaneous disorder most commonly associated with acute or chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic carcinoma. We describe a case of a 17-year-old woman who presented with a 2-day history of erythematous patches involving her bilateral knees and tender, scattered red-brown nodules involving her bilateral anterior shins. She was seen during a hospitalization for emergent cesarean section and her hospital course was complicated by HELLP syndrome (defined by the presence of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count), acute fatty liver of pregnancy and pancreatitis. The characteristic histopathologic findings, including ghost cells, fat necrosis and granular basophilic material with dystrophic calcification, appear in later lesions. In early lesions, as was shown in this case, a neutrophilic subcutaneous infiltrate raises a differential diagnosis including infection, subcutaneous Sweet's syndrome or atypical erythema nodosum. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of pancreatic panniculitis in association with HELLP syndrome and acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Early recognition is critical, as skin lesions may precede the development of pancreatitis. Often, as in our case, the effects of pancreatitis may be life threatening.

[Etiology and clinical characteristics of pregnancy-emerged thrombocytopenia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology and clinical characteristics of pregnancy-emerged thrombocytopenia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 159 pregnancies with thrombocytopenia, who were admitted to Peking University People's Hospital from January 2000 to January 2010. All the patients recruited in this study had no history of blood or immune system disease before pregnancy, and thrombocytopenia was the predominate clinical manifestation during pregnancy, with platelet counts less than 100 × 10(9)/L at least twice during pregnancy. The thrombocytopenia should not be induced by drugs, viral infections, preeclampsia or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome (HELLP). All cases were followed up. The general condition, the onset time of thrombocytopenia, platelet changes, accompany symptoms, maternal and perinatal outcomes as well as follow-up conditions were compared based on the etiology. RESULTS: (1) ETIOLOGY: among the 159 cases, 101 (63.5%) were diagnosed gestational thrombocytopenia (GT); 43 (27.0%) were idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP); 9 (5.7%) were blood system diseases, including 4 cases of megaloblastic anemia (MA), 2 cases of aplastic anaemia (AA), and 3 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Six cases (3.8%) were diagnosed immune system diseases, including 3 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 2 cases of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and 1 case of Evans syndrome. (2) Maternal and perinatal outcomes:pregnancy induced hypertension was diagnosed in 21 cases (13.2%), abnormal glucose metabolism in 13 cases (8.2%), anemia in 44 cases (27.7%) and preterm delivery in 18 cases (11.3%). Twenty-nine cases (18.2%) were treated with corticosteroids or gamma globulin during pregnancy. The average gestational week was 38 weeks. Fifty-five cases (34.6%) underwent vaginal delivery, 104 cases (65.4%) received cesarean section. Postpartum hemorrhage was observed in 34 cases (21.4%), and puerperal infection happened in 2 cases (1.3%). No maternal death was found. In a total of 160 fetuses (including twins), there were 157 live births. Three cases of fetal death and 2 cases of early neonatal deaths were observed. Fetal growth restriction was observed in 4 cases, and neonatal thrombocytopenia was seen in 6 cases. No intracranial hemorrhage was detected. (3) The onset time of thrombocytopenia: among the 159 cases, 29 cases (18.2%), 67 cases (42.1%), 63 cases (43.6%) of thrombocytopenia were detected in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. There was a significant difference of the onset time of thrombocytopenia between GT and ITP groups (P < 0.05). Patients with GT tended to have a later onset of thrombocytopenia, which mainly happened in the second and third trimester, while patients with ITP tended to happen in the first and second trimester. (4) The degree of thrombocytopenia: the cases with the minimum platelets level of (51 - 100) × 10(9)/L, (31 - 50) × 10(9)/L, (10 - 30) × 10(9)/L, < 10 × 10(9)/L during pregnancy were 75 (47.2%), 39 (24.5%), 31 (19.5%), 14 (8.8%) respectively. There was a significant difference between GT and ITP groups in the lowest platelets level (P < 0.01). (5) Thrombocytopenia accompany with anemia: among the 159 cases, there were 44 cases (27.7%) accompanied with anemia. The proportion was 9.9% (10/101) in GT group, 58.1% (25/43) in ITP group, with significant difference (P < 0.01). Anemia was also found in 5 cases in blood system disease group (5/9), and 1 case in immune system disease group (Evans syndrome, 1/6). Pancytopenia was observed in 2 cases with ITP (4.7%, 2/43) and 3 cases with blood system disease (AA: 1 cases, MA: 2 cases, 3/9). (6) The recovery of the platelets counts postpartum: the postpartum follow-up periods were 7 months to 10 years. Patients recovered within 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months postpartum were 66 cases (41.5%), 43 cases (27.0%), 17 cases (10.7%) respectively. The platelets counts did not recover within 6 months postpartum in 33 cases (45.7%). CONCLUSIONS: GT is the leading cause of pregnancy-emerged thrombocytopenia followed by ITP. There are significant differences between GT and ITP in the onset time of thrombocytopenia, the lowest platelets level, the proportion of anemia accompanied and the postpartum recovery. Other etiologies including immune and blood system diseases are rare. The relevant examinations should be taken for etiology and differential diagnosis.

Association of preeclampsia and myasthenia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis in pregnancy is uncommon, and its occurrence in conjunction with preeclampsia is very rare but may be catastrophic for mother and child. CASE: A 31-year-old, multiparous woman, with a history of myasthenia gravis and thymectomy, presented at 27 weeks with worsening preeclampsia and delivered by cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Preeclamptic crisis with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome developed postpartum. Blood pressures remained severely high. Intensive care management and a labetalol drip resolved the crisis. CONCLUSION: Added complications may arise from myasthenic exacerbation, difficulties in early recognition of signs and symptoms, and the use of medications that slow neuromuscular transmission.

Perfil clínico, laboratorial e complicações de pacientes com síndrome HELLP admitidas em uma unidade de terapia intensiva obstétrica / Clinical and laboratorial profile and complications of patients with HELLP syndrome admitted in an obstetric intensive care unit

OBJETIVO: descrever o perfil clínico e laboratorial e complicações de pacientes com síndrome HELLP internadas em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) obstétrica e incluídas em um ensaio clínico randomizado para avaliar a eficácia do uso da dexametasona. MÉTODOS: O PRESente estudo corresponde a uma análise secundária das pacientes submetidas a um ensaio clínico randomizado realizado entre agosto de 2005 e novembro de 2006. A amostra foi composta de puérperas com diagnóstico de síndrome HELLP (pré ou pós-parto), que não fossem usuárias crônicas de corticosteróides ou portadoras de doenças crônicas que pudessem alterar os parâmetros laboratoriais da doença. Pacientes muito graves ou que não tivessem condições de consentir em participar também não foram incluídas no estudo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de formulários padronizados preparados especialmente para serem utilizados no estudo. As variáveis analisadas foram: idade, paridade, idade gestacional na admissão e na interrupção da gestação, época do diagnóstico de síndrome HELLP, classificação da síndrome HELLP (completa ou incompleta), pressão arterial e diurese na admissão. Os resultados laboratoriais analisados no momento do diagnóstico da síndrome HELLP foram: hemoglobina, contagem de plaquetas e dehidrogenase lática, transaminases e bilirrubinas séricas. Analisaram-se ainda as complicações apresentadas: oligúria, insuficiência renal aguda, manifestações hemorrágicas, edema agudo de pulmão, óbito, necessidade de hemotransfusão e tempo de internamento hospitalar. A digitação e a análise estatística foram realizadas usando-se o programa Epi-Info 3.3.2. RESULTADOS: foram avaliadas 105 pacientes. A idade variou de 14 a 49 anos, com média de 26,7. Em relação à paridade, 56 pacientes (53,8 por cento) eram primigestas. O diagnóstico da síndrome HELLP foi feito no período pré-parto em 47 pacientes (45,2 por cento) com idade gestacional média de 32,4 semanas. Entre as complicações, encontraram-se...

PURPOSE: to describe the clinical and laboratorial profile of HELLP syndrome patients admitted at an Obstetric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and included in a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in this clinical setting. METHODS: the present study is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial design to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in patients with HELLP syndrome. This sample of patients was composed of patients in the puerperium, with the diagnosis of HELLP syndrome (diagnosis made before or after delivery) who were not chronic corticosteroid users and not carriers of any chronic disease which could modify HELLP syndrome's laboratorial parameters. Patients who were too critical or whose condition did not allow them to consent to participate were not included. Data were extracted from the records used in the randomized clinical trial. Age, parity, gestational age at admission and delivery, time of diagnosis (before or after delivery), HELLP syndrome classification (partial or complete), arterial blood pressure, and diuresis at admission were considered for analysis. Among laboratorial findings, hemoglobin, platelet count, liver enzymes, LDH, and serum bilirubin were analyzed. Complications presented by the patients were also analyzed as well as need of blood transfusions and duration of hospitalization. Analysis was made by the Epi-Info 3.3.2 program. RESULTS: one hundred and five patients were analyzed. Age varied from 14 to 49 years (means of 26.7). Regarding parity, 56 patients (53.8 percent) were primiparas. Analyzing the timing of the diagnosis, 47 patients (45.2 percent) had the diagnosis before delivery. The mean gestational age in these patients was 32.4 weeks. Hemorrhagic manifestations were observed in 36 patients (34.3 percent), oliguria was present in 49 patients (46.7 percent) and criteria for acute renal failure were seen in 21 (20 percent) of the cases. Hemotransfusions were...

Síndrome HELLP: experiencia del Hospital Regional de Puerto Montt, 2000-2006 / HELLP syndrome: Hospital Regional of Puerto Montt experience, 2000-2006

Objetivos: Caracterizar el síndrome HELLP en una población obstétrica de la décima Región de Chile. Método: Análisis de 33 pacientes con síndrome HELLP asistidas en el hospital de Puerto Montt, en el período 2000-2006. Resultados: La incidencia fue 1,3 casos por mil partos. La edad gestacional promedio de presentación fue de 33 semanas. En 84,8% de las pacientes el diagnóstico fue anteparto. El 27% de las pacientes recibió dexametasona. La principal complicación materna fue la insuficiencia renal aguda. El 91% de las pacientes presentó hipertensión arterial. No hubo muertes maternas. El peso promedio de los recién nacidos fue 2.048 gramos; 42% con edad gestacional menor a 34 semanas; 34,4% pesó menos de 1500 gramos; 9,4% presentó depresión neonatal severa a los 5 minutos; 12,1% falleció en el período neonatal. Conclusiones: El síndrome HELLP es una patología de baja incidencia y con elevada morbimortalidad neonatal.

Objectives: To characterize HELLP syndrome. Method: Analysis of 33 patients with HELLP syndrome assistedat the Puerto Montt hospital, in the period 2000-2006. Results: The incidence was 1.3 cases per thousand births. The average gestational age at presentation was 33 weeks; 84.4% of patient had prepartum diagnosis; 27% of patients received dexamethasone. The main complication was maternal acute renal failure. 91% of patients had hypertension syndrome. There were no maternal deaths. The average weight of newborns was 2,048 grams; 42% with gestational age less than 34 weeks; 34.4% weighed less than 1,500 grams; 9.4% had severe 5 minutes newborn depression; 12.1% died in the neonatal period. Conclusions: The HELLP syndrome is a disease of low incidence, with a high neonatal morbimortality.

Potential role of recombinant activated factor VII for the treatment of severe bleeding associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation: a systematic review.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is a novel hemostatic agent, originally developed for the treatment of hemorrhage in hemophiliacs with inhibitors, which has been successfully used recently in an increasing number of nonhemophilic bleeding conditions. In the present systematic review we report the existing literature data on the use of this hemostatic agent in severe bleeding, unresponsive to standard treatment, associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. A total of 99 disseminated intravascular coagulation-associated bleeding episodes treated with rFVIIa were collected from 27 published articles: in the majority of the cases, the underlying disorder complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation was a postpartum hemorrhage, while in the remaining cases it was a cancer, trauma, sepsis or liver failure. Although limited, the data available suggest that rFVIIa could have a potential role in this clinical setting. Large randomized trials are needed, however, to confirm the preliminary results and to assess the safety and dosing regimens of this agent in refractory bleeding associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Oral N-acetylcysteine administration does not stabilise the process of established severe preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To stabilise the disease process in women with early onset severe preeclampsia and/or HELLP syndrome by enhancing maternal antioxidants effects of glutathione. STUDY DESIGN: In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, women with severe preeclampsia and/or HELLP syndrome received oral N-acetylcysteine. Primary outcome measures were disease stabilisation expressed as treatment-to-delivery interval and biochemical assessment of glutathione and parameters of oxidative stress. Secondary outcome measures were maternal complications, rate of caesarean section, stay at intensive care unit, postpartum hospital stay and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Analyses were done by intention-to-treat using Wilcoxon's two-sample test and regression analysis. RESULTS: Median treatment-to-delivery interval was not significantly different between the N-acetylcysteine and placebo group. The whole blood and plasma levels of glutathione and other thiols were not affected by N-acetylcysteine administration, except for plasma homocysteine concentrations, which were lower in the N-acetylcysteine group. There were no differences found in maternal nor neonatal secondary outcome measures between both groups. CONCLUSION: Oral N-acetylcysteine administration does not stabilise the disease process of early onset severe preeclampsia and/or HELLP syndrome.