title: Acute pancreatitis and cholecystitis associated with postpartum HELLP syndrome: a case and review.
abstract: We report a case of preeclampsia associated with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome and concomitant nonbiliary acute pancreatitis and cholecystitis in the first postpartum day. A thorough investigation ruled out known etiologies of both pancreatitis and cholecystitis. Following conservative treatment, the patient's HELLP syndrome, pancreatitis, and cholecystitis resolved on the third postpartum day. Preeclampsia is associated with microvascular abnormalities that may involve the splanchnic circulation. These abnormalities may cause not only HELLP syndrome but also pancreatitis and cholecystitis. Recognizing that ischemia can damage not only the liver but also the pancreas and gallbladder, could result in improvements in the diagnosis and management of pancreatitis in patients with preeclampsia.
authors: Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Hojo
authors: Kiyomi
authors: K
authors: Tsukimori
authors: Mio
authors: M
authors: Hanaoka
authors: Ai
authors: A
authors: Anami
authors: Naoyuki
authors: N
authors: Nakanami
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Kotoh
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Nozaki
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D041881:Cholecystitis, Acute / Q000150:complications*; D002765:Cholecystography; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy