HELLP syndrome was first identified as a distinct clinical entity in 1982 by Dr. Louis Weinstein based on a case of a woman who died postpartum exhibiting symptoms of hemolysis, abnormal liver function, thrombocytopenia, and hypoglycemia. Dr. Weinstein reviewed prior literature and found that cases with features of HELLP had been reported as early as 1954 but it was not recognized as a distinct condition until he compiled information on similar patients and identified key characteristics of the syndrome.