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A 32-year-old primigravida showed signs of pre-eclampsia before delivery of a healthy boy at term. The CSF-space was accidentally punctured during epidural anaesthesia in labour. One day later hypertension was noted and the patient had a single generalized fit. For the next three weeks she had postural headaches, fluctuating hypertension, intermittent hearing loss and double-vision. On the 22nd day of postpartum, the patient had the first of a series of partial and later generalized seizures, followed by hemiparesis, alteration of consciousness, and finally slow recovery with corticosteroid therapy. Bilateral subdural effusions and generalized meningeal thickening were found on MR scans. Repeated MRI excluded sinus thrombosis and documented the response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes an atypical presentation of eclampsia. A 26-year-old lady presented 5 days' postpartum with a series of grand mal seizures after an uneventful pregnancy and delivery. An MRI scan of the brain showed areas of low signal involving cerebral white matter and right cerebellum. Within 2 weeks, all symptoms and radiologic abnormalities had resolved.

Objective: To establish the risk of serious complications from severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in a region using a common guideline for the management of these conditions., Design: A five-year prospective study., Setting: Sixteen maternity units in Yorkshire., Population: All women managed with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia., Methods: A common guideline was developed for the management of women with these conditions. A network of midwives prospectively collected outcome data., Main Outcome Measure: Incidence of the conditions and serious complication rates., Results: A total of 210,631 women delivered in the 16 units between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2003. One thousand eighty-seven women were diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia (5.2/1000). One hundred and fifty-one women had serious complications including 82 women (39/10,000) having eclamptic seizures and 49 women (23/10,000) requiring ICU admission. There were no maternal deaths but 54 out of 1145 babies died before discharge, giving a mortality rate of 47.2/1000. Of the 82 cases of eclampsia, 45 occurred antenatally (55%), 18 before admission to the maternity unit. Eleven cases occurred in labour (13%), including 1 during a caesarean section, and 26 cases occurred following delivery (32%). Twenty-five women developed pulmonary oedema (2.3% of cases) and six women required renal dialysis (0.55% of cases). One hundred and sixty-five (15%) required no antihypertensive therapy and 489 (53%) of the remainder required only oral therapy. Two hundred and one (18.5%) required more than one drug., Conclusion: A regional guideline for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia can be developed and implemented. Its use may contribute to a low rate of serious complications.

A 34-year-old woman with eclampsia and the hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome developed encephalopathy, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary edema, liver failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), all of which resolved. She also had retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and a hemorrhagic infarct in the left occipital lobe that resulted in a permanent right homonymous hemianopia and a persistently depressed acuity of 20/100 OS. This case is unusual in demonstrating permanent visual deficits. In nearly all cases of preeclampsia or eclampsia, visual deficits are reversible. The superimposition of the HELLP syndrome may create more neurologic damage. Clinicians should be alert to patients at risk for HELLP syndrome and manage them aggressively.

Background: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the clinical manifestations in patients with preeclampsia and eclampsia, assessed the risk factors compared to the severity of hypertensive disorders on maternal and perinatal morbidity, and mortality between the referral and non-referral patients., Methods: 271 pregnant women with preeclampsia and eclampsia were assessed (1993 to 1997). Chi-square analysis was used for the comparison of categorical variables, and the comparison of the two independent variables of proportions in estimation of confidence intervals and calculated odds ratio of the referral and non-referral groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used for adjusting potential confounding risk factors., Results: Of the 271 patients included in this study, 71 (26.2%) patients were referrals from other hospitals. Most of the 62 (87.3%) referral patients were transferred during the period 21 and 37 weeks of gestation. Univariate analysis revealed that referral patients with hypertensive disorder were significantly associated with SBP > or =180, DBP > or =105, severe preclampsia, haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP), emergency C/S, maternal complications, and low birth weight babies, as well as poor Apgar score. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the risk factors identified to be significantly associated with increased risk of referral patients included: diastolic blood pressure above 105 mmHg (adjusted odds ratio, 2.09; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.06 to 4.13; P = 0.034), severe preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio, 3.46; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.76 to 6.81; P < 0.001), eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.77; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.92 to 8.35; P = 0.071), HELLP syndrome (adjusted odds ratio, 18.81; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.14 to 164.99; P = 0.008)., Conclusion: The significant factors associated with the referral patients with hypertensive disorders were severe preeclampsia, HELLP, and eclampsia. Lack of prenatal care was the major avoidable factor found in referral and high risk patients. Time constraints relating to referral patients and the appropriateness of patient-centered care for patient safety and better quality of health care need further investigation on national and multi-center clinical trials.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of admission--delivery interval on maternal morbidity in patients with severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. This was a retrospective study, which involved review of case sheets of 188 women (admitted to St John's Medical College Hospital during the year 2000--2001 with the above diagnosis). The incidence of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia was 5.18% (188/3,627) with 119 primigravida and 69 multigravida. The incidence of serious maternal complications in the post partum period was 17% (11/68) in the category of women who delivered within 12 hours of admission compared with 40.6% (28/69) in the 12--48-h category and 60.8% (31/51) in the>48-h category. The incidence of serious maternal complications in the subset with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome was 33.4% (7/21) in the12-h. We concluded that termination of pregnancy within 12 hours of admission in severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia especially in patients with HELLP syndrome helps to prevent avoidable serious maternal morbidity.

Background: This study was carried out evaluate to epidemiology, clinical presentation and prognostics aspects of patients presenting with eclampsia., Methods: This study was carried out at Gynae "C" unit of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad from 1st July 2003 to 31st October 2004. All patients presenting with eclampsia to the labor ward were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on history and confirmed on clinical findings of hypertension, oedema, proteinuria superimposed with fits. Patients with history of fits during pregnancy, labor and peurperium other than eclampsia were excluded from study. History physical findings and base line investigation were recorded on a proforma., Results: A total of 2100 admissions were made in the labor ward during this period and out of them 68 cases (3.23%) were of eclampsia. Out of them 28 were primigravidae, 14 multigravidae and 26 grandmultigravidae. The seasonal frequency of cases was 29.41% in winters, 42.64% in autumn, 19.11% in summers and 8.82% in spring. Out of these 11.76% cases were complicated with retroplacental haemorrage and the same number with aspiration pneumonia, while Cerebrovascular Accident (2.94%) Acute tubular necrosis (2.94%) and Disseminated intravascular clotting (4.4%) were also seen. Among the new borns prematurity was found to be the major cause of perinatal mortality., Conclusion: Eclampsia is a dreadful complication of Pre Eclamptic Toxemia of pregnancy associated with high perinatal and maternal mortality. A qualitative and quantitative improvement in prenatal consultation should make it possible to reduce incidence of eclampsia measuring arterial blood pressure daily during antenatal period and for at least 14-days postpartum appears to be necessary for diagnosis and treatment for all cases of hypertension.

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy associated with hypertension and proteinuria. Preeclampsia may be associated with grand mal seizures and is termed eclampsia. Historically, eclampsia occurring more than 48 hours after delivery, known as late postpartum eclampsia, was thought to be uncommon; however, recent evidence suggests that its incidence is increasing. In addition, the presentation of late postpartum preeclampsia-eclampsia may differ from that occurring during the pregnancy. This contributes to difficulty in diagnosing late postpartum preeclampsia-eclampsia in an emergency department setting. We report 2 cases of late postpartum eclampsia presenting 8 days after delivery, which highlight the unique features of this disorder and discuss some of the difficulties in managing these patients. Greater awareness and knowledge of this disorder by ED physicians should improve outcomes in these potentially life-threatening cases.

Over the last decade there has been an increase in the use of MgSO4 for the prevention of seizures in women with severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. At the Rotunda Hospital it is regularly used for this purpose. The aim of this study was to audit the use of MgSO4 at the hospital, to determine whether the drug was being used according to the hospital's protocol and to observe its effectiveness in the prevention of eclampsia in our population. A retrospective chart review over the two years from 1/1/2000 to 31/12/2001 was undertaken. Outcome measures assessed were; Patient selection, Administration of the drug - whether recommended protocols were adhered, Effectiveness of therapy for seizure prophylaxis, Maternal and neonatal outcomes. There were 12,910 deliveries at the Rotunda hospital over this period of time. Fifty of these women were treated with MgSO4 (0.4%). Patient selection was appropriate in all cases. The correct loading dose of MgSO4 was administered in all cases, however MgSO4 levels were recorded in only 30 (60%) of women. There were no seizures in the treated group. Two women presented with seizures (one was antenatal the other post-natal period), both were treated with MgSO4. There were no maternal or neonatal mortality. Seventy two percent (36) of these women were delivered by lower segment caesarean section. The mean gestation at delivery was 36 weeks (range 28-41 weeks). Thirty eight percent (13) of babies required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. The mean birth weight at delivery was 2.54 kg (range 1.11-3.68 kg). MgSO4 use in the Rotunda hospital appears to be safe and effective for the prevention of seizures in women with severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. Serum MgSO4 levels were only recorded in 60% of patients and the hospital's protocol was not adhered to regarding monitoring of patients on treatment. This needs to be addressed.

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify suitable applications for cerebral MR (magnetic resonance) scanning in cases of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia through comparison of clinical course and easily accessible parameters., Methods: From January 2001 to December 2003, cerebral MR scans were performed on 43 women with severe preeclampsia; of those 41 were enrolled in data analyses. Twenty clinical parameters, including age, body mass index, blood pressure, liver and renal function, and coagulation status, were compared for each patient. Data were analyzed using the SPSS program on a VAX main frame., Results: Among 41 severe preeclamptic women, abnormal MR images were observed in 11 cases including six with systemic seizures. Predictive accuracy of eclampsia with abnormal cerebral MR imaging was 84.9% (P=0.00001), while only 14.3% of severe preeclampsia cases had been diagnosed radiologically. Statistical analysis suggests diastolic BP and serum AST as predictive parameters for abnormal MR images with 82.9% predictive accuracy (P=0.0007)., Conclusions: Cerebral edema can be observed in preeclamptic patients developing eclampsia. Rapid delivery is indicated when diastolic BP and AST are elevated. MR scanning is useful when delivery is delayed due to fetal immaturityin cases of severe preeclampsia.

Objective: Our purpose was to find out and compare perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia-eclampsia with and without HELLP syndrome., Methods: Clinical and laboratory findings, and perinatal-neonatal outcomes of all pregnants with severe preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP have been prospectively recorded. Results were compared by means of Student's t test, chi2 analysis and Fisher's exact test as appropriate., Results: Among 367 consecutive severe preeclampsia, 106 (29%) had HELLP syndrome, 261 (71%) had severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. Mean gestational age and birth weight at delivery in severe preeclampsia without HELLP syndrome and in HELLP syndrome were 34.1 +/- 6.1 vs. 33.0 +/- 5.8 weeks (p = 0.119) and 1,886 +/- 764 vs. 1,724 +/- 776 g (p = 0.063), respectively. Comparing overall fetal mortality (4.6 vs. 10.3%, p = 0.009) and perinatal mortality (8.0% vs. 16.8%, p = 0.026) in severe preeclampsia-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, respectively, there were statistically significant differences. But when analyses were performed according to gestational age before and after 32nd gestational week, the difference of perinatal mortality between the two groups was non-significant (p = 0.644 and p = 0.250), suggesting borderline difference. The most common contributing factor for fetal death after 32nd week was due to abruptio placenta without prenatal follow-up. Neonatal morbidity and neonatal mortality (4.8 vs. 6.3%, p = 0.905) in severe preeclampsia-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome respectively were similar and the difference was statistically nonsignificant., Conclusions: Perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity-mortality according to gestational age before and after the 32nd week were similar in HELLP syndrome compared with severe preeclampsia-eclampsia without HELLP but overall fetal mortality was higher in HELLP syndrome with no regular prenatal care., (Copyright 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

We report 3 cases with reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) accompanied by eclampsia or hypertensive encephalopathy. RPLS may develop in patients who have eclampsia or hypertensive encephalopathy or who are immunosuppressed. The findings on neuroimaging are characteristic of subcortical edema without infarction. A 27-year-old primigravida developed eclampsia at 37 weeks of gestation. MRI was performed 4 hours after the onset. The FLAIR sequence delineated extensive hyperintense lesions in the temporal and occipital lobe bilaterally. MR angiography(MRA) performed 6 days after the onset of symptoms clearly demonstrated intracranial vasospasm. Follow up MRI and MRA were performed 3 weeks after the onset. The MRI showed slight residual hyperintensity in the occipital lobe. The MRA showed the disappearance of the vasospasm. A 39-year-old woman on the 8th postpartum day presented with thunderclap headache, which led to a search for SAH. She visited our hospital, whose high arterial blood pressure (220/110 mmHg) was observed. Both CT and MRA were normal. MRI revealed abnormalities in the parieto-occipital regions bilaterally. Treatment of hypertension led to resolution of the posterior leukoencephalopathy. A 38-year-old woman on the 11th postpartum day suddenly developed vertigo, visual disturbance and generalized convulsion. MRI was performed 7 days after the onset. The FLAIR sequence delineated extensive hyperintense lesions in the occipital lobe bilaterally. MRA clearly demonstrated diffuse intracranial vasospasm. MRA performed 3 weeks after the onset showed the disappearance of the vasospasm. In conclusion, our experience suggests that the MRI and MRA noninvasively provide valuable findings which are complementary in the diagnosis and follow-up examination of a brain edema and vasospasm in RPLS.

Background: Preeclampsia-eclampsia and acute renal failure in peripartum women can be the cause of mortality and morbidity. There are many different reports about oxidative-antioxidative systems in preeclampsia-eclampsia. Until now, products of activated oxidative-antioxidative systems were not evaluated in peripartum women with acute renal failure. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the oxidative-antioxidative systems in peripartum women with acute renal failure and/or preeclampsia-eclampsia., Methods: The study groups consisted of 17 peripartum women (first week of delivery) with acute renal failure (G I), 11 preeclamptic (G II), 11 healthy pregnancy (> or = 30 weeks of pregnancy) (G III), and 11 healthy women (G IV) aged between 18-38 years. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in erythrocytes, and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in all groups. SOD, GSHPx, and MDA levels were also measured at the onset of acute renal failure (G IA), regression of renal dysfunction (G IB) and recovery of renal functions (G IC)., Results: MDA levels were 11.95+/-4.25, 9.22+/-3.62, 5.10+/-3.65, 3.40+/-1.27, 4.91+/-2.06, 4.24+/-1.67 mmol/mL in G IA, G IB, G IC, G II, G III, and G IV, respectively. SOD activity in erythrocyte were 3269.23+/-1437.83, 2641.35+/-1411.13, 2056.35+/-1143.11, 924+/-160.04, 1057.91+/-257.03, 861.63+/-243.28 Ug/Hb in G IA, G IB, G IC, G II, G III, and G IV, respectively. GSHPx activity in erythrocyte was 70.17+/-23.52, 58.27+/-23.75, 45.44+/-17.60, 24.48+/-6.77, 26.28+/-7.27, 32.95+/-8.24 Ug/Hb in G IA, G IB, G IC, G II, G III, and G IV, respectively. MDA levels and activities of SOD, GSHPx in erythrocytes were highest in GIA The values of MDA, SOD, and GSH-Px in G IA, G IB, and G IC were significantly different from each other and decreased while regaining of renal functions. Preeclampsia-eclampsia or normal pregnancy did not cause elevation of plasma MDA levels and GSHPx, SOD in erythrocyte., Conclusion: Although SOD and GSHPx in erythrocytes and plasma MDA level were found to be similar in healthy women, pregnant women, and preeclamptic women; SOD, GSHPx, and MDA increased at the beginning and decreased during recovery of renal functions in peripartum women with acute renal failure.

The potentialities of graphic ventilation monitoring (graphic monitor "Servo Screen 390", Siemens Elema, Sweden) were analyzed for optimizing the respiratory management parameters in 48 obstetric and gynecology patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The ventilation loops and curves, ALV parameters, mechanical lung properties, gas blood composition and gas indices were dynamically evaluated during examination stages. The graphic ventilation monitoring, when used for respiratory management in patients with ARDS, provides for optimizing, in the real time mode, the PEEP and Vt levels, which is in line with the AVL "safety" concept.

Objective: To assess the incidence, risk factors and the outcome of acute renal failure (ARF) associated with eclampsia in intensive care unit (ICU)., Design: Prospective and analytic study., Setting: A surgical ICU in a university hospital., Patients: 178 consecutive women with eclampsia admitted to an intensive care unit during seven years. ARF was defined by a serum creatinine concentration >140 micromol/L., Results: The incidence of ARF was 25.8%. In univariate analysis the severity of patient illness, the complications associated with eclampsia (disseminated intravascular coagulation, Hellp syndrome, neurologic complications, abruptio placenta, aspiration pneumonia, delivery hemorrhage) were significantly associated with ARF. In a logistic regression model, risk factors for ARF included organ system failure (OSF) odds ratio (OR)=1.81 confidence interval (CI) [1.08-3.05], bilirubin >12 micromol/L OR=4.42 CI [1.54-12.68], uric acid >5.9 g/dL OR=16.5 CI [3.09-87.94], abruptio placenta OR=0.2 7 CI [0.08-0.99], and oliguria OR=0.10 CI [0.03-0.44]. In contrast, severity of blood pressure or proteinuria on dipstick were not associated with ARF. However, in this series, 15 women required dialysis in the short term and one required long-term dialysis. ARF associated with eclampsia was significantly associated with mortality (32.6% versus 9.1% p=0.0001)., Conclusion: ARF with eclampsia is a frequent situation that required intensive management when risks factors were present. The need for dialysis was a rare condition.

Eclampsia is a serious complication of preeclampsia with high maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity rates. The recommended management is induction of labour when convulsions are controlled and the women's condition is stabilised. Here, we report about stabilisation after eclampsia followed by prolongation of a preterm pregnancy for 11 days within early gestational weeks.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of proteinuria on pregnancy outcome in hypertensive syndrome with singleon pregnancies., Methods: Transversal study with retrospective data of 334 pregnancies complicated by hypertensive syndromes who were delivered in the Department of Obstetrics of UNIFESP/EPM from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2002., Results: The patients were divided into four groups: (I) without proteinuria (n-203); (II) with proteinuria of 0.3 to 1.0g (n-39); (III) 1.0 to 2.0g (n-45); and (IV) 2.0g or more. Without proteinuria there was one case of placental abruption. The presence of proteinuria predicted adverse maternal outcome with increase of complications proportional to his elevation; among them, HELLP syndrome was the most frequent with 30.5% (40/131) followed by eclampsia with 3.8% (5/131), DPP 3.1% (4/131) and renal insufficiency with 0.7% (1/131). It was confirmed one maternal death in that group, when Maternal Mortality of 763/100.000nv was added up. As to the perinatal effects there was not increase of adverse effects without proteinuria. In the presence of proteinuria and its levels was observed the worst perinatal outcome with the elevation of the following indicatives: increase prematurely (62.2% vs 11.5%), newborn with weight < 2500g (6.5% vs 1.5%), newborn with Apgar < 7 in the 5th minute (30.4% vs 3.5%), concepts with growing restriction of intrauterine (41.9% vs 6.5%), newborn interned in the neonatal undid, (59.8% vs 15.5%) stillborn (14.4% vs 1.4%), neonatal deaths (6.1% vs 0.98%). The Perinatal Mortality was greater with proteinúria (175 vs 19,7) and, when = 2.0g (297.8 vs 19.6)., Conclusions: The presence of proteinuria in the hipertensives syndromes during gestation and the elevation of their levels increase the risks of maternal complications, especially HELLP syndromes and eclampsia. Besides, it was observed a significative incidence of premature birth, newborn with Apgar < 7, weight < 2500g, IUGR, stillborn and neonatal deaths.

Background: Abnormalities of calcium and magnesium metabolism are known risk factors for QT interval prolongation and have been reported in eclampsia., Objective: To determine if eclampsia is associated with QT abnormalities, Methods: In a prospective study, the QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc), serum calcium, magnesium and potassium were compared among 30 intrapartum eclamptics and 30 age, parity and gestational age-matched women with uncomplicated pregnancy, Results: Primigravidae made up 93.3 % of patients. Mean age was 19.5+/-4.2 years Blood pressure was significantly higher among patients than controls (163.0+/-34.7mmHg versus 120.4+/-18.6mmHg systolic, p<0.05) and (104.7+/-15.2mmHg versus 79.6+/-10.7mmHg, p<0.05). Heart rate ranged from 76 to 163 beats per minute (bpm) and 65 to 112bpm among patients and controls respectively. The corresponding QTc were 390-572 and 390-460 respectively. Compared to the controls, patients had significantly higher mean heart rate (121.1+/-24.9bpm versus 89.3+/-12.9bpm, p<0.05) and higher QTc (470.4+/-42.4 versus 436.3+/-17.7; p<0.05). Compared to the controls, the eclamptics also had higher frequency of sinus tachycardia (90% versus, 13.3%) Odd Radio (OR) =29.57; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 5,87-174.08, p=0.00), abnormal QTc (46.7% versus 6.6%, OR = 9.2; 95% CI =1.61-68.48, p=0.01) and T-axis deviation (26.6% versus 3.3%, OR=10.55, 95% CI=1.2-244.3, p=0.03) Serum calcium level was significantly lower among patients than controls (2.0+/-0.4mmol/L versus 2.3+/-0.2mmol/L, p<0.05). The eclamptics had higher frequency of hypocalcaemia than the controls (40 % versus 6.6%; OR = 14, 95% Cl = 1.58-316.9, p=0.01). Serum magnesium, potassium, urea and creatinine levels were similar between the two groups., Conclusion: Eclampsia is associated with abnormal QTc that may be related to maternal hypocalcaemia. Correction of electrolyte abnormalities and cautions about agents that have potential for QT prolongation are vital in the care of eclamptics.

We present our anaesthetic management of a 27-year-old woman with antepartum eclampsia, mild thrombocytopenia, difficult airway and clinical evidence of impending upper airway obstruction. She required urgent delivery by caesarean section, which was conducted uneventfully under spinal anaesthesia. We discuss the management conundrums presented by this case and why we chose spinal anaesthesia over other anaesthetic options.

Aim: To measure maternal and perinatal outcome and analyze risk factors for antepartum and intrapartum eclampsia, which is one of main causes of high maternal mortality at the top referral hospital in the Kingdom of Cambodia., Methods: A hospital-based retrospective study of 164 antepartum and intrapartum eclampsia cases out of 20,449 deliveries., Results: Overall case-fatality rate was 12%. Rate of stillbirth and low birth weight were 20% and 44%, respectively. Eighty percent of the cases presented signs of severe pre-eclampsia and 27% of the patients who gave birth received cesarean section. Living outside the capital city, teenage pregnancy and twin pregnancy are more frequently associated with eclampsia., Conclusion: Antepartum and intrapartum eclampsia is associated with severe pre-eclampsia and with poor maternal and perinatal outcome. Recommendations to reduce the burden of eclampsia are promoting and improving quality of antenatal care and health education especially in the third trimester; increasing access to high-quality essential obstetric care; improving the service delivery in rural areas; and monitoring the progress by hospital data.

Background: Our objective was to assess the frequency, epidemiological factors, complications, and outcome of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia and compare them according to severity of the condition in Kerman, southeastern Iran., Material/methods: A prospective study was performed on 200 consecutive cases of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia referred to the Kerman University Maternity Center from June 2001 to December 2002. Demographic data and complications were described and severe preeclampsia and eclampsia compared using t-student's and chi2 tests., Results: Severe preeclampsia occurred in 3% and eclampsia in 0.6% of deliveries during the period of study. The majority of patients were young and primigravida, especially in the eclampsia group. 72.7% of eclamptic patients suffered their first convulsion at home and not in the presence of medical help. HELLP syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, neurological complications, and acute respiratory distress syndrome were the main maternal complications, all occurring more frequently in eclamptic patients. The frequency of pulmonary edema, placental abruption, postpartum hemorrhage, and aspiration pneumonia was not significantly different between the two groups. More than half of patients underwent cesarean delivery. Early neonatal mortality rate was 13% in the entire cohort. All six maternal deaths during the period of the study occurred in eclamptic cases (mortality rate 18%), four relating to patients who had not received prenatal care., Conclusions: Severe preeclampsia carries a high risk of maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortality in Kerman. This risk increases in the presence of eclampsia, particularly in neglected cases who have not sought prenatal care.

A previously healthy female sustained bilateral subcapital femur fractures during an eclamptic seizure. This complication has not been previously described in association with eclampsia. Clinicians need to be aware of this potential complication and investigate postseizure hip pain appropriately.

Objective: This study was undertaken to characterize the neuroimaging findings of cerebral edema associated with eclamptic seizures by use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)., Study Design: During the 3-year period ending March 2002, 27 nulliparous women with eclampsia were evaluated with diffusion-weighted MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping. Those with findings of restricted diffusion suggestive of cytotoxic edema underwent neuroimaging again 6 weeks post partum., Results: All but 2 of these 27 women (93%) had reversible vasogenic edema. Six were also found to have areas of cytotoxic edema consistent with cerebral infarction. Five of these 6 women had persistent imaging findings of infarction when studied post partum, however, without clinical neurologic deficits., Conclusion: The spectrum of cerebral lesions in eclampsia as seen with MRI varies from initially reversible areas of vasogenic edema that may progress to cytotoxic edema and infarction in up to a fourth of women.

Context: Acute pancreatitis during pregnancy is rare and commonly occurs in association with biliary disease. Preeclampsia is associated with microvascular abnormalities that may involve cerebral, placental, hepatic, renal and splanchnic circulation and rarely can cause acute pancreatitis., Case Report: A case of acute pancreatitis in a patient with preeclampsia-eclampsia where the diagnosis was missed initially that resulted in a protracted course and development of organized pancreatic necrosis. The pancreatic necrosis resolved with conservative management over 8 weeks., Conclusions: The development of severe hypoalbuminemia, out of proportion to proteinuria, hypocalcemia and findings of capillary leak should alert the physician to search for other inflammatory causes, including acute pancreatitis so that early and effective management be given to avoid complications.

Objectives: Neurological abnormalities contribute significantly to maternal mortality in eclampsia. We studied the epidemiology and neurological and obstetric outcome of such patients., Methods: A retrospective analysis was done at a referral center. 19 cases of eclampsia with recurrent convulsions (n = 8) or coma without convulsions (n = 5) or cerebrovascular accidents (n = 4) or blindness (n = 2) were studied. We excluded cases with primary neurological abnormalities. Management included initial stabilization followed by early delivery. Primary anticonvulsant was magnesium sulphate., Results: The incidence of eclampsia was 0.71%. Among 61 cases, 19 (31.14%) had neurological abnormalities; 15 patients had no antenatal care. Three cases were postpartum. Comatose patients had the highest mean arterial pressure (MAP) (mean 154.66 mm Hg, p = 0.027). Fundoscopy was usually normal. Computerized tomography revealed mild cerebral edema in six cases and accurately diagnosed all cerebrovascular accidents. Phenytoin controlled convulsions in 7/8 cases with recurrent seizures. The cesarean section rate was 37.5% and admission to delivery interval was 10.38 hours. Five perinatal and two maternal deaths were recorded among 19 cases. Neurological recovery was complete in all survivors., Conclusions: Critical care back-up is essential at tertiary referral centers for a large proportion of neurological abnormalities in eclampsia. High MAP and accompanying thrombocytopenia may be key factors in cerebral pathology. CT scan is a simple and effective investigation in these cases. Phenytoin is an effective second-line anticonvulsant. No maternal death was related directly to cesarean section. Early delivery prevents worsening of systemic status.

Brain computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography were performed in five eclamptic patients. Three of them had HELLP syndrome. The findings on the imaging studies showed bilateral lesions affecting regions of the brain, such as cortico-subcortical either posterior and anterior circulation territories, white matter, talamic or mesencephalic-protuberancial areas. No vasospasm in middle size arteries were observed with magnetic resonance angiography. Although visual disturbance and occipital lobe involvement were correlated, no other mentioned lesions had clinical manifestations.

Unlabelled: Hypertension is the most important cause of disease in the expectant mother and the fetus, and it unfavorably affects the perinatal morbidity and mortality., Aim: To determine the method of delivery of a pregnant women with Praeeclampsia-Eclampsia (PE-E) depending upon the severity, continuity and term of appearance of hypertensive disease during pregnancy and its impact on perinatal morbidity and mortality., Material and Methods: The study covers a two year period (2002-2003), during which 84 pregnant women are treated and deliver with PE-E in the Ist and IInd Obstetrics clinics. Of them 64 (76.20%) are with mild form of PE, 10 (11.90%) with mid severe form and 10 (11.90%) severe form of which 3 had Eclampsia. The pregnancies were followed using echography and cardiotocographic monitoring., Results and Discussions: With the severe forms of PE-E the disease started between 25-30 gestational weeks (60%), while with the mid severe the appearance was between 31-36 g.w. (50%). Persistence of PE > 4 g.w. was observed with severe PE, whereas in mild forms continuity of < 3 g.w. (73.44%) prevailed with its onset after 37 g.w. (57.81%). Normal delivery was attained with 41 pregnancies (48.81%), Caesarean section (CS) with 40 (47.62%), vacuum extraction with 1 (81.19%) and 2 (2.38%) had incomplete aborts. Frequency of CS with the severe forms of PE-E is 80%, with mid severe 50%, and with the mild forms is 42.19%. The most frequent indication of CS is fetal distress--11 (27.50%) and complicated obstetric anamnesis--9 (22.50%). With severe PE-E the most frequent indication is aggravation of symptoms and its non responsiveness to treatment. Born dead are 3 fetuses with severe retardation and body weight < 800 gm. Early gestational age hasn't given us the reason for premature delivery. Death of 1 child, born by CS with 750 gm weight is recorded. The higher rate of CS (3 times more than the median for the clinic--15.16%) can be explained to a degree by the fact that operative delivery by CS in pregnancies with PE-E reduces complications and has an aim to prevent complications to the fetus as well as the mother.

Introduction: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are common major complications of pregnancy and are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in the fetus, the newborn infant and the mother., Objectives: To access if a single estimation of urinary microalbumin at booking would be of value in the prediction of subsequent development of preeclampsia or eclampsia, Methods: We studied at booking urinary microalbumin excretion in one hundred healthy normotensive Nigerian pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic and followed them till delivery. The women were grouped into 3 i.e. those with normal, micro and macro albumin excretion during analysis., Results: Ninety-three of these patients delivered at UCII, 2 had spontaneous abortions and five delivered elsewhere. At booking, 57 patients (61.3%) had normal albumin excretion and 22 (23.7%) and 14(15%) had microalbuminuria and gross albuminuria respectively. The men urinary albumin excretions for the normal, micro and gross albuminuria groups were 10.2 +/- 8.4, 67.0 +/- 55.2 and 321.4 +/- 14.0 mg/24 hours respectively. There was increased incidence of preeclampsia with an increase in albumin excretion and this was statistically significant (P value < 0.05). No patient developed eclampsia. With single urinary microalbumin excretion estimation at booking, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of albuminuria were 88.9%, 67.9%, 22.2% and 98.3% respectively., Conclusion: Urinary microalbumin excretion when used as a single test at booking appeared to predict preeclampsia with a high sensitivity but a low positive predictive value.

Late postpartum eclampsia is an increasingly recognized entity. We describe a patient who developed postpartum eclampsia on the 6th day of delivery without any preceding pre-eclampsia. A high index of suspicion and close follow-up will help in the early detection of this condition. Awareness of this condition will also save the patient from unnecessary investigations. This may be all the more relevant in developing countries where eclampsia contributes to one-third of maternal mortality and the resources for patient investigation and management are limited.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the prediction of the evolutive course of brain edema and to establish its pathophysiologic presence in patients with eclampsia/severe preeclampsia., Study Design: Seventeen patients with a clinical diagnosis of severe eclampsia/preeclampsia and T2 hyperintense brain lesions on routine magnetic resonance imaging were evaluated at hospital admission and 8 weeks later., Results: Brain edema was reversible in 13 patients and irreversible in 4 patients, as indicated on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging. Sixteen of 17 patients were differentiated accurately into reversible and irreversible groups on the basis of diffusion imaging on hospital admission. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a significant increase in water mobility in abnormal regions compared with normal-appearing brains in patients in the reversible group (1.34+/-0.10 mm(2) vs 0.79+/-0.08 mm(2)/s x 10(-3), P<.001). In the irreversible group, restricted water diffusion was present, which was consistent with cytotoxic edema and early brain infarction in 3 of 4 patients., Conclusion: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can predict successfully the evolutive course of brain edema in an acute setting in these patients. Our findings indicate that brain edema is vasogenic, although ischemic/cytotoxic edema was observed less commonly.

We present two cases of late postpartum eclampsia. Both patients presented with a chief complaint of headache, and were diagnosed with eclampsia after the onset of seizures. Neither patient had proteinuria or edema. Further evaluation did not yield another diagnosis for the seizures, and treatment with i.v. magnesium sulfate was successful in stopping the seizures. No further seizure activity occurred in either patient.

The preeclampsia is the first cause of maternal morbility, with increase in the obstetric complications when it is associated to HELLP syndrome, for the low platelets that even involves to the neonate. This study was carried out in the patients accepted in the intensive Adults Cares Unit in the period of one year, surgical complications and the perinatal results were determined in women with low platelet count for HELLP syndrome in preeclampsia-eclampsia. Three groups were formed according to the platelets account and then were analyzed using chi square to determine association among these groups of patients, as well as mean and standard deviation (M +/- DE) to describe results. Forty patients were studied with low platelets by HELLP syndrome in preeclampsia-eclampsia, where the distribution for the group with platelets < 50,000 were 12 patients (30%), in the group among 51,000-100,000 of 18 cases (45%), and of 101,000-150,000 were of 10 cases (25%). The mean of gestas was of 2.3 +/- 1.2, more frequent delivery was for cesarean section in 39 cases (97.5%) and a single case for vaginal via (2.5%), a maternal death was presented (8.3%). The surgical reintervention was observed with more frequency in the group of < 50,000 platelets, the most frequent cause in these reinterventions was the hipovolemic shock. Also in this group the perinatal mortality was presented in 3 cases (25%) and the asphyxia at the birth with Apgar < 6 was presented in 5 cases (41.7%). A bigger morbility was observed inversely proportional to the account platelets, being the renal failure the cause most frequent of this morbility in the three groups. The low platelets account contribute in a direct way in the obstetric complications, since there are more surgical reinterventions, with bled in the transsurgical and increase in the days of intrahospitalary stay. Also with smaller account platelet, there are bigger prematural index, asphyxia and perinatal mortality in the newborn of mothers with HELLP syndrome.

Visual loss following eclampsia is usually reported to be a result of retinopathy, exudative retinal detachment or cortical blindness. This paper reports the case of a 31-year-old para 5 + 0 housewife who developed bilateral visual loss following eclampsia and presented to the ophthalmologist four weeks later with a vision of light perception in both eyes. Examination showed evidence of hypertensive retinopathy. Convinced that the ocular findings were not responsible for such marked visual loss, she was commenced on systemic, topical and sub-conjunctival injection of steroids, acetazolamide and multivitamins. Her vision improved progressively to 6/6 right eye and 6/9 left eye after three weeks. Obstetricians are advised to refer cases of visual loss following eclampsia promptly to the ophthalmologist who should in turn manage aggressively with systemic, topical and sub-conjunctival steroids.

Clinical as well as neuroimaging studies of women with eclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) have described a variety of neurologic manifestations, including intraparenchymal brain hemorrhage. Autopsy studies have described pia-arachnoid hemorrhage in women who died of eclampsia, but radiographic studies have found only intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The author describes clinical and radiographic features in three women with subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with PIH.

A 25-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of convulsions after delivering a baby. Her neurological examination revealed a disturbance of consciousness and weakness in both arms. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) showed thrombosis of the left transverse sinus and many patchy high signals at bilateral basal ganglia and subcortical areas. A digital subtraction angiogram (DSA) of the brain revealed a defect at the left transverse sinus, congestion of the cerebral venous flow at the vein of Galen and vasospastic changes at both posterior cerebral arteries. After treating the patient with a venous infusion of heparin, nicardipine and phenytoin, her neurological deficits improved within a day. When MRI and DSA were repeated 2 weeks later, the abnormal lesions had disappeared. These findings suggest that venous thrombosis and vasospasm had the pathogenesis of eclampsia in this case.

Eclampsia is defined by the occurrence of seizures resulting from hypertensive encephalopathy on the background of preeclampsia. The development of hypertension during pregnancy, a serious and potentially fatal condition, is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and death in the United States.(1-3) It is a disease with preventable complications. The pathophysiology of hypertension during pregnancy is unclear, but there is consensus that aggressive treatment is warranted to prevent complications to both fetus and mother. A current concept of pathophysiological character, diagnosis, prevention, and management of eclampsia is discussed.

Objective: To evaluate the predictability of eclampsia and explore the role for seizure prophylaxis in a population with a low frequency of seizure prophylaxis., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all women with eclampsia registered at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, between 1991 and 2000. The data collected included timing of seizure in relation to diagnosis of gestational hypertension (GHTN) and delivery, method of seizure prophylaxis (if any), and maternal characteristics., Results: During the study period, 3075 of 38,577 women (8.0%) were diagnosed with GHTN, with or without proteinuria or adverse conditions. Three percent had received magnesium sulfate for seizure prophylaxis. Of these 3075 women, 17 (0.6%) developed eclampsia, none of whom was receiving magnesium sulfate for seizure prophylaxis at the time. Of these, 10 women (59%) exhibited GHTN prior to their first seizure, including 6 women with GHTN with adverse conditions, 3 with GHTN with proteinuria but without adverse conditions, and 1 with GHTN without proteinuria or adverse conditions. Five of the 17 women had seizures that occurred prior to labour, 6 were intrapartum, and 6 were postpartum. Nine (53%) of the 17 women with eclampsia had their initial seizure after the diagnosis of GHTN and before 24 hours postpartum., Conclusion: Seizure prophylaxis for all the women with GHTN, from the time of diagnosis through 24 hours postpartum, may have been able to prevent as many as 53% of eclamptic episodes. Three hundred and seven women with GTHN would have to receive seizure prophylaxis to prevent one seizure.

Pre-eclampsia affects 3-7% of women and is associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) has been used in pre-eclampsia/eclampsia to evaluate non-invasively the cerebrovascular hemodynamics in the maternal middle cerebral artery. TCD has demonstrated in pre-eclamptic women maternal cerebral vasospasm, which does not correlate with mean arterial pressure assessed simultaneously. Estimated cerebral perfusion pressure, assessed using a modified formula, has been shown to be increased in women with severe and non-severe pre-eclampsia. However, in severe pre-eclampsia, elevated cerebral perfusion pressure is counterbalanced by increases in cerebrovascular resistance and cerebral blood flow is unaffected. In eclampsia a significant fall in cerebral vascular resistance occurs which, in the presence of increases in cerebral perfusion pressure, leads to hyperperfusion. Cerebral vascular changes to date have not been sensitive enough to predict the development of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. Longitudinal studies with the aim of predicting the onset of pre-eclampsia and to assess the effects of various drugs on the maternal cerebral circulation need to be designed., (Copyright 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objectives: To determine the risk factors for birth weight discordance in twins., Methods: We used the United States (1995-97) Matched Multiple Birth File (n = 294 568) to assess the association between birth weight discordance and maternal sociodemographic, pregnancy and infant characteristics., Results: Eighty-four per cent of the twins were 0-19% discordant, 11.1% were 20-29% discordant, 3.4% were 30-39% discordant, and 1.8% were > or = 2 40% discordant. The risk factors for birth weight discordance for same-sex twins were eclampsia (odds ratio (OR) 1.39,95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20, 1.61), pre-eclampsia (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.24, 1.38), pre-existing hypertension (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.12, 1.56), diabetes (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04, 1.24) and certain congenital anomalies. For opposite-sex twins, the risk factors for birth weight discordance were pre-eclampsia (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09, 1.27), pre-existing hypertension (OR 1.59,95% CI 1.32, 1.91), and certain congenital anomalies. Also, smoking and increased maternal age were associated with birth weight discordance in both same-sex and opposite-sex twins., Conclusions: Maternal hypertensive disorders, smoking and delayed childbearing were associated with intrapair birth weight discordance. The mechanisms of these associations deserve further investigation.

The purpose of this report is to provide two illustrative cases of spontaneous and bilateral perirenal hematomas that occurred during a pregnancy complicated by eclampsia. The sonographic and computed tomographic findings included bilateral perirenal hematoma with no evidence of an underlying malignancy. Since renal hematomas that occur in association with preeclampsia and eclampsia syndrome are extremely rare, but potentially life-threatening complications, prompt laboratory and radiologic evaluations are essential and can reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To investigate maternal-fetal outcome of infants born after pregnancies complicated by (H)ELLP syndrome., Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients with the HELLP or ELLP syndrome. Maternal and perinatal complications were recorded. The follow-up period of the infants was at least 18 months. A multivariate regression analysis was done to define the variables mostly contributing to adverse outcome., Results: No maternal deaths occurred. Eighteen infants of the HELLP group and six infants of the ELLP group died; total perinatal mortality was 17.6%. After 18 months four infants had major handicaps, making a total adverse outcome of 22.8%. Statistical analysis shows early gestational age, prolongation of pregnancy and administration of antihypertensive medication as the factors influencing outcome of the infants most., Conclusions: Prolongation of pregnancy contributed to better perinatal outcome, while administration of antihypertensive medication and early gestational age were related to a more unfavorable outcome.

Objective: To study the specific management problems of severe eclampsia under tropical latitudes., Study Design: A two years retrospective study in a University hospital in the tropics., Patients and Methods: In all patients admitted for eclampsia between January 1997 et December 1999, the following parameters were studied: age, parity, interval between disease et admission, post-eclampsia Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), time of occurrence of eclampsia during pregnancy, delivery route, blood pressure data at admission, the occurrence of complications at admission or during hospital stay., Results: Twenty-eight mainly primiparous patients (mean age: 26 +/- 6) were admitted with an average delay of 8.5 +/- 10.2 hours after the first symptoms. The time of occurrence was prepartum in 6, perpartum in 14 and postpartum in 8 cases. All patients were hypertensive and comatose with an average GCS of 8 +/- 2.2. Twenty patients had been previously intubated and ventilated. Delivery was natural in 22 and by caesarean section in 6 patients. The following complications were found: acute oliguric renal failure (9), HELLP-syndrome (4), cerebral haemorrhage (4), acute lung oedema (3) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (1). Maternal and child mortality were 35 and 42.8% respectively., Conclusion: Eclampsia is a major cause of both maternal and infantile mortality in developing countries. The authors insist that prevention and management require speedy transfers to adapted specialized obstetrical intensive care structures.

The difficult types of preeclampsia and eclampsia are presented with the neurological symptoms. The break of cerebral autoregulation mechanism plays the most important role in pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm. Nevertheless, eclampsia isn't just an ordinary hypertensive encephalopathy because other pathogenic mechanisms are involved in its appearance. The main neuropathologic changes are multifocal vasogenic edema, perivascular multiple microinfarctions and petechial hemorrhages. Neurological clinical manifestations are convulsions, headache, visual disturbances and rarely other discrete focal neurological symptoms. Eclampsia is a high-risk factor for onset of hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. This is a reason why neurological diagnostic tests are sometimes needed. The method of choice for evaluation of complicated eclampsia is computerized brain topography that shows multiple areas of hypodensity in occipitoparietal regions. These changes are focal vasogenic cerebral edema. For differential diagnosis of eclampsia and stroke other diagnostic methods can be used--fundoscopic exam, magnetic resonance brain imaging, cerebral angiography and cerebrospinal fluid exam. The therapy of eclampsia considers using of magnesium sulfate, antihypertensive, anticonvulsive and antiedematous drugs.