What is HELLP syndrome? HELLP stands for H (hemolysis, which is the breaking down of red blood cells) EL (elevated liver enzymes) LP (low platelet HELLP syndrome can be difficult to diagnose, because all of the typical signs of preeclampsia may not be apparent, such as high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Its symptoms are sometimes mistaken for gastritis, flu, acute hepatitis, acute fatty liver disease, gall bladder disease, or other conditions. While some of these conditions may also b