Objective: Characterization of syndromes for patients with life-threatening, progressively worsening hemolysis-elevated-liver-enzymes-and-platelet (HELLP) syndrome-like diseases and with thrombotic microangiopathies. RETROSPECTIVE STUDY DESIGN: Patients who underwent postpartum plasma-exchange (PPEX) for preeclampsia-related, and microangiopathy/coagulopathy illnesses unresponsive to medical therapy between 1994 and 2008 in our center and elsewhere.
Results: Nine patients were treated with PPEX in our center with 78% maternal survival. Treatment with PPEX increased platelet levels (p=0.048), decreased serum lactic dehydrogenase (p=0.0012) and aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.0001).
Conclusion: Nineteen patients from publications combined with our patients suggest five categories of postpartum thrombotic microangiopathy syndrome that exhibit HELLP syndrome criteria and respond to PPEX.
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