The Investigation of Prenatal Screening Test Parameters in Predicting HELLP Syndrome

Abstract

We aimed to investigate whether first and second-trimester prenatal screening test parameters may be useful in predicting HELLP Syndrome.HELLP syndrome was defined according to Sibai criteria. The collected data were as follows; age, gravida, parity, body mass index,gestational week at labor, route of delivery, birth weight, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, firsttrimester multiple of medians (MOM) of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (BhCG), second trimester B hCG, unconjugated estriol (uE3) and AFP levels were measured.A total of 80 patients in the study group and 135 patients in control groups were included in the study. All the markers of HELLP syndromewere significantly higher in the study group due to the markers was the criteria for HELLP syndrome. While first-trimester PAPP-A wassignificantly lower in the study group, B hCG levels were similar between groups. The second trimester B hCG level was significantly higherin the study group. AFP level and uE3 level were not different in the control and study groups.Low PAPP-A levels and high second trimester B hCG levels may be associated with HELLP syndrome in subsequent gestational weeks.