HELLP syndrome, intracerebral hemorrhage, and hemophagocytic syndrome after cesarean section in a pregnant patient with severe preeclampsia: a case report

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-related intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a rare but potentially life-threatening event with complex and varied cause, such as HELLP syndrome and hemophagocytic syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: A 33-year-old patient underwent a cesarean section with a preliminary diagnosis of "severe preeclampsia and class3 HELLP syndrome ". The patient had poor response to language before surgery, and the catheter drainage fluid was hematuria. Later, the surgeon reported severe bleeding in the operation. Following thromboelastography (TEG) result and postoperative laboratory tests confirmed class1 HELLP syndrome and ICH occurred on the second day after the surgery, and hemophagocytic syndrome was diagnosed during subsequent treatments. CONCLUSION: For patients with HELLP syndrome, we should pay attention to their coagulation condition. The coagulation tests and platelet counts should be repeated if their clinical presentation changed. Those with neurological alarm signs should receive CT or MRI scan. If a pregnant woman had prolonged hemocytopenia and thrombocytopenia, not only the HELLP but also the hemophagocytic syndrome should be considered.