title: Postpartum HELLP syndrome--the case of lost battle.
abstract: Unexpected rapid maternal death after delivery due to HELLP syndrome is rarely encountered and may become the subject of forensic expertise. Unexpectedness, suddenness, and fulminant course of this syndrome as well as absence of classical signs of pre-eclampsia can confuse physicians and lead to diagnostic delay. A definitive post-mortem diagnosis of HELLP syndrome in questionable cases of maternal death should be based on accepted laboratory criteria and characteristic histopathological alterations. We present a case of acute postpartum HELLP syndrome complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute renal failure which caused rapid maternal death only 20 hours after a caesarean section following an uncomplicated pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. sonjapoptrajkovic@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pop-Trajković
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antić
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kopitović
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Popović
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trenkić
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vacić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000401:mortality*