Eclampsia is an acute and life-threatening complication of pregnancy characterized by the appearance of tonic–clonic seizures (convulsions), usually in a woman who has developed pre-eclampsia Typically a woman shows signs of pregnancy-induced hypertension and proteinuria before the onset of the hallmark of eclampsia, the eclamptic convulsion Other cerebral signs may precede the convulsion, such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, and cortical blindness Risk factors Eclampsia, like pre-eclampsia, tends to occur more commonly in first pregnancies and young mothers where it is thought that novel exposure to paternal antigens is involved. Furthermore, women with pre-existing vascular diseases (hypertension, diabetes, and nephropathy) or thrombophilic diseases such as the antiphospholipid syndrome are at higher risk to develop pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Diagnosis Seizures during pregnancy that are unrelated to pre-eclampsia need to be distinguished from eclampsia. Such disorders include seizure disorders as well as brain tumor, aneurysm of the brain, and medication- or drug-related seizures. Usually the presence of the signs of severe pre-eclampsia precede and accompany eclampsia, facilitating the diagnosis. Investigations: CBC, Renal function test (RFT), Liver function test (LFT), coagulation screen, plasma rate concentration, 24 hour urine analysis, ultrasound. The Treatment Antihypertensive management at this stage in pregnancy may consist of hydralazine Prevention of convulsion is usually done using magnesium sulphate
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:50:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015