title: Comparison between HELLP syndrome, chronic hypertension, and superimposed preeclampsia on chronic hypertension without HELLP syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare perinatal outcome of patients with HELLP syndrome to that of patients with chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia on chronic hypertension without HELLP syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated the perinatal outcome of 147 pregnancies complicated by the HELLP syndrome, chronic hypertension, and superimposed preeclampsia on chronic hypertension without HELLP syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gestational age at delivery and birthweights were lower among women with HELLP syndrome than among women with superimposed preeclampsia and chronic hypertension (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups with respect to intrauterine growth retardation, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, Apgar score, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, overall rate of cesarean delivery and cesarean delivery rate for fetal distress. The total perinatal mortality rate was 17% (28/147) and was more frequent in the HELLP group (27%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age at delivery (RR 0.45) and birthweight (RR 0.99) were risk factors for adverse outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perinatal outcome is primarily influenced by gestational age at delivery and birthweight independent of the severity of the hypertensive status of pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine School of Karadeniz Technical University, 61080 Trabzon, Turkey. osmanaga@meds.ktu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Mehmet A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Osmanağaoğlu
authors.forename: Inanç
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.forename: Ulkü
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zengin
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bozkaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology