[Corticosteroid therapy for patients with HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count)].

Objective: To evaluate the influence of the therapy with high-dose corticoids on the clinical and laboratory evolution of HELLP syndrome.

Study Design: We reviewed all the cases of pregnancy complicated with HELLP, admitted to the Garcia de Orta Hospital from 1993 to 2000. We compared the patients without corticosteroid therapy or with a standard corticosteroid regimen for promotion of fetal lung maturation--group 1, with the patients who received dexamethasone (10 mg intramuscular every 12 hours)--group 2.

Results: Out of 48 patients, 13 were included on group 1 and 35 on group 2. The time from admission to delivery was longer for the group on dexamethasone (3.7+/-4.5 days) compared to the group without (1.8+/-2.4). There was a significant improvement in the symptom of epigastric pain (P<0.05) and in the laboratory findings--platelets (P<0.000), liver enzymes (P<0.000) and lactic dehydrogenase (P<0.001), in the dexamethasone group. The number of caesarean deliverys was similar on both groups (group 1--46% and group 2--48%). The use of regional anesthetic techniques for delivery, was higher on group 2--66% (23 of 35) compared with group 1--15% (2 of 13), P=0.006. There was no significant difference in the maternal morbidity or number of blood transfusions. Perinatal mortality was associated with prematurity, and similar in the two groups.

Conclusions: This study confirms the positive influence of the high-dose corticosteroid therapy on HELLP syndrome.