Eclampsia differential diagnosis

Eclampsia Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Pathophysiology
Differentiating Eclampsia from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Eclampsia differential diagnosis On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Eclampsia differential diagnosis All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Eclampsia differential diagnosis
CDC on Eclampsia differential diagnosis
Eclampsia differential diagnosis in the news
Blogs on Eclampsia differential diagnosis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Eclampsia
Risk calculators and risk factors for Eclampsia differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Seizures during pregnancy that are unrelated to Preeclampsia need to be distinguished from Eclampsia.

Differentiating Eclampsia from other Diseases

Eclampsia must be differentiated from other diseases that can cause seizures during pregnancy. The differentiation can be done by obtaining a proper history, physical examination, diagnostic tests, or imaging. Such disorders include:

• Acute exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematous
• Adrenal Insufficiency or Acute Adrenal crisis
• Aneurysm of the brain
• Brain tumor
• Cerebellar Haemorrhage
• Disseminated herpes simplex
• Disseminated sepsis syndromes
• Drug Overdose syndromes
• Drug Withdrawal syndromes
• Encephalitis
• Fatty liver of pregnancy
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Hypertensive encephalopathy
• Hypoglycemia
• Medication- or drug-related seizures
• Meningitis
• Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)
• Primary Hyperaldosteronism
• Seizure disorders and Epilepsy
• Stroke (Hemorrhagic or Ischemic)
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Usually, the presence of the signs of severe preeclampsia that precede and accompany eclampsia facilitates the diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis	Similar Features	Differentiating Features
Acute exacerbation of SLE	Lupus flares can present with proteinuria, hypertension, deterioration in kidney function, thrombocytopenia and seizure also observed in eclampsia.	On urine examination, cellular casts and proteinuria can be found in SLE while only proteinuria is seen in Eclampsia. SLE is associated with decreasing levels of complement and incresing titre of anti-dsDNA. Also, a history of previous SLE and onset of symptoms before 20 weeks points towards lupus and a renal biopsy can help confirm the diagnosis although it is genereally not recommended during pregnancy.
Acute adrenal insufficiency	Adrenal insufficiency can present with fatigue, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, loss of appetite, headache, abdominal pain, confusion, loss of consciousness, abnormal body movements, or coma, also seen in eclampsia.	On [physical exam; history; diagnostic test; imaging], [Differential 1] {has; demonstrates} [feature 1], [feature 2], [feature 3] that distinguish it from [disease name].
Differential 3	On [physical exam; history; diagnostic test; imaging], [Differential 1] {has; demonstrates} [feature 1], [feature 2], [feature 3] also observed in [disease name].	On [physical exam; history; diagnostic test; imaging], [Differential 1] {has; demonstrates} [feature 1], [feature 2], [feature 3] that distinguish it from [disease name].
Differential 4	On [physical exam; history; diagnostic test; imaging], [Differential 1] {has; demonstrates} [feature 1], [feature 2], [feature 3] also observed in [disease name].	On [physical exam; history; diagnostic test; imaging], [Differential 1] {has; demonstrates} [feature 1], [feature 2], [feature 3] that distinguish it from [disease name].
Differential 5	On [physical exam; history; diagnostic test; imaging], [Differential 1] {has; demonstrates} [feature 1], [feature 2], [feature 3] also observed in [disease name].	On [physical exam; history; diagnostic test; imaging], [Differential 1] {has; demonstrates} [feature 1], [feature 2], [feature 3] that distinguish it from [disease name].