Eclampsia overview
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Eclampsia Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Eclampsia overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Eclampsia overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Eclampsia, an acute and life-threatening complication of pregnancy, is characterized by the appearance of tonic-clonic seizures in a patient who had developed preeclampsia; rarely does eclampsia occur without preceding preeclamptic symptoms. Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and toxemia of pregnancy are terms used to encompass both preeclampsia and eclampsia. Seizures and coma that happen during pregnancy but are due to preexisting or organic brain disorders are not eclampsia.
Eclamptic convulsions may appear in the last trimester (rarely before), during labour, and in the first two days postpartum; it would be highly unusual to see eclampsia later than 48 hours after delivery.[1]
Historical Perspective
The term is derived from the Greek and refers to a flash, a term used by Hippocrates to designate a fever of sudden onset.[1]