Dexamethasone Efficacy in HELLP I Syndrome

Dexamethasone Efficacy in HELLP I Syndrome, a Multicentric, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of dexamethasone for treatment of HELLP I (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome.

Treatment of HELLP syndrome usually is restricted to measures of support and treatment of complications. In 2005, in a subgroup analysis we showed that, among patients with HELLP 1, there were a shorter average time to platelet recovery and less duration of hospitalization in women who received dexamethasone therapy, however the importance of this finding is diminished because this was an unplanned analysis and the severity of the disease was not taken into account at randomization.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women who were at >20 weeks of gestation or during the first 3 days of puerperium if hypertension developed during the pregnancy or the puerperium with:
• platelet count, < or = 50,000/mm3; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), > or = 70 U/L; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), > or = 600 U/L.
• Women who consent to be included informed consent by signature

Exclusion Criteria:

• diabetic ketoacidosis
• oral temperature > 37.5 grade
• Contraindication for use steroids