Abstract

SCHUARZBERG, Pablo et al. Severe lactic acidosis in a pregnant woman with partial HELLP syndrome and COVID-19. Medicina (B. Aires) [online]. 2022, vol.82, n.6, pp.967-970. ISSN 0025-7680.

The present report describes the case of a 23-year old pregnant woman who was in the 36.5th week of gestation of her second pregnancy. She was attended at the emergency room because of dry cough and progressive dyspnea, in association with headache and myalgia. The nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive. Oxygen saturation and chest x-ray were normal. Laboratory tests showed elevated values of bilirubin, aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase, and mild thrombocytopenia. Shortly after being admitted she began with labor. Faced with the lack of progression, the termination of the pregnancy by cesarean section was decided. Arterial blood gases showed severe lactic acidosis. She never presented evidence of clinical signs of tissue hypoperfusion or sepsis that could explain it. The patient completed her postoperative period in the intensive care unit, undergoing supportive treatment. All laboratory parameters were normalized after 72 hours, evolving favorably from the clinical point of view. It was interpreted that she had a partial HELLP syndrome. Lactic acidosis is not a component of this syndrome. Nor can it be ascribed to a mild disease by SARS-Cov-2. It probably responded to a summation of causes, including hyperproduction of lactic acid during labor, as well as its reduced clearance because of liver dysfunction related to HELLP syndrome.

Keywords : Acidosis; Lactic; HELLP syndrome; COVID-19.

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