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Eclampsia is the onset of seizures (convulsions) in a woman with pre-eclampsia. [1] Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that presents with three main features: new onset of high blood pressure, large amounts of protein in the urine or other organ dysfunction, and edema.
In general, the treatment of postpartum preeclampsia is the same as during pregnancy, including using anti-hypertensive medications to lower blood pressure and magnesium sulfate to prevent eclampsia. The same blood pressure medications that are used during pregnancy can be used in the postpartum period.
Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia, are a major contributor to maternal and fetal illness and death on a worldwide scale. Around 5-10% of pregnancies are affected by these conditions, with preeclampsia being responsible for up to 14% of maternal deaths globally.
Potential severe hypertensive states of pregnancy are mainly: Pre-eclampsia – gestational hypertension, proteinuria (>300 mg), and edema. Severe pre-eclampsia involves a BP over 160/110 (with additional signs). It affects 5–8% of pregnancies. [20] Eclampsia – seizures in a pre-eclamptic patient, affect around 1.4% of pregnancies. [21]
This is particularly true if the pregnancy is beyond 34 weeks of gestation. [2] Medications may be used to decrease blood pressure and blood transfusions may be required. [1] HELLP syndrome occurs in about 0.7% of pregnancies and affects about 15% of women with eclampsia or severe pre-eclampsia. [5] [2] Death of the mother is uncommon (< 1%).
Miscarriage and pre-eclampsia are both very rare in other species, but are two of the most common pregnancy-related diseases in humans. [24] The genetic roots of gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia are certain, as women with a family history of the condition are three times more likely to develop it when they are pregnant. [25]
[3] [4] While high blood pressure treatment has been shown to decrease the incidence of severe hypertension during pregnancy, there was no significant difference in pregnancy complications (for example, superimposed pre-eclampsia, stillbrith/neonatal death, small for gestational age).
They take care of pregnant women who have chronic conditions (e.g. heart or kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and thrombophilia), pregnant women who are at risk for pregnancy-related complications (e.g. preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, and twin or triplet pregnancies), and pregnant women with fetuses at