Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The combination of hypertension, headache, visual disturbances, hyperreflexia, elevated liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia in a pregnant patient is consistent with HELLP syndrome, a severe form of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia alone is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria but without the additional abnormal labs seen in HELLP syndrome. Eclampsia involves seizures and is a progression of preeclampsia. Abruptio placenta presents with abdominal pain and bleeding but does not directly cause hypertension or abnormal labs.