The nurse is continuing to care for the client. Exhibits The nurse is reviewing the assessment findings. For each assessment finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome. Each finding may support more than one disease process.

Rationale: Platelet count: A low platelet count (<100,000/mm&sup3;) is a hallmark of HELLP syndrome but can also appear in severe preeclampsia. Therefore, thrombocytopenia supports both diagnoses. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): Elevated ALT indicates hepatic involvement due to hepatocellular injury, which is a defining feature of HELLP syndrome but not required for preeclampsia diagnosis. Blood pressure: Severe hypertension (&ge;160/110 mm Hg), as seen in this client, is diagnostic of severe preeclampsia. It may also be present in HELLP syndrome due to overlapping pathophysiology. Hemoglobin: Low hemoglobin can reflect hemolysis, which is part of the HELLP acronym (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets). Preeclampsia does not typically present with anemia unless HELLP develops.