Pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome

Pre-eclampsia remains one of the main direct causes of maternal death, as reported in the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom. Many of those deaths feature elements of substandard care. This article discusses the definitions of hypertension and the current thinking on the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia and also discusses the relevant risk factors: general, familial, obstetric and medical. Current prophylactic measures such as low dose aspirin are described. The management of pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome is discussed.