Pregnancy is a rare occurrence in Cushing's syndrome (CS) and it is associated with severe arterial hypertension in 64.6% of cases; infertility and abortion occur in 75% of patients with CS. In the event of a pregnancy in CS the etiology of hypercortisolism is the cortisol-producing adrenal adenoma in most cases. A most severe complication of high blood pressure in pregnancy is the HELLP syndrome. We report two cases of pregnancy in patients with CS, who developed a severe, sudden and early situation of HELLP syndrome which progressed to fetal death. The first was caused by an adrenal adenoma and the second by an adrenal carcinoma. Pregnancy due to CS can lead to a serious life-threatening situation, like the HELLP syndrome. Special attention should be paid when pregnancy is associated to CS. Early diagnosis leads to specific treatment, in an attempt to reduce de high morbid-mortality in these cases.
Cushing's syndrome; HELLP syndrome; Pregnancy