Hepatic infarct complicating HELLP syndrome

Case contributed by Youssef Sakhy
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Day 1 after cesarean section for pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Female

CT scan shows patches of poorly defined non-enhancing areas of the right liver lobe , compatible with hepatic infarct given the context.

Peritoneal fluid with small right-sided pleural effusion.

Post-operative uterine changes with pneumoperitoneum.

Case Discussion

HELLP syndrome is an uncommon pregnancy-related condition characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets, affecting 0.2% of all pregnancies1.

Hepatic infarction is a complication of HELLP syndrome, rare due to the dual vascular supply of the liver, its pathogenesis remains unclear but regional vasospasm is the most probable cause.

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.