BACKGROUND:

Preeclampsia before 20 weeks' gestation is exceptional; it is associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide, represents a 10% complication of all the pregnancies worldwide, where there has been a significant increase in its incidence has been observed. In the last two decades, with an annual estimate of 50,000 to 60,000 maternal deaths in the world.

CLINICAL CASE:

26-year-old woman in the 17th week of pregnancy, who was admitted to the emergency department for a 20-minute evolution of severe headache with subsequent generalized tonic-clonic seizure episode, admission blood pressure was 170/102 mmHg, she was also found with mucocutaneas pallor, gynecological examination found a gravid uterus with a uterine height of 18 cm, and a fetal heart rate of 136 bpm. The paraclinical tests confirmed a HELLP syndrome, being considered an atypical situation due to the gestational age in which she presented.

CONCLUSIONS:

Atypical cases of preeclampsia are usually rare cases, especially when they appear before week 20; however, in this population it is important to make a diagnosis process in a timely manner, to initiate rapid treatment. Additionally, caution should be exercised with disorders including lupus nephritis, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and hemolytic uremic syndrome, as well as molar pregnancy and antiphospholipid syndrome.