Eclampsia differential diagnosis

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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/ Herpes Simplex Encephalitis(HSE)
• 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.	Adrenal insufficiency will present with hypotension, whereas eclampsia is associated with high blood pressure. Also, AI patients may have a history of chronic use of steroids for diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Patients may present with symptoms only in the postpartum period as during pregnancy they may acquire cortisol transplacentally from the fetus. Diagnostic tests show decreased morning basal serum cortisol, decreased salivary free cortisol, not seen in eclampsia. Further cosyntropin test and basal ACTH levels can be done. Imaging (MRI without gadolinium administration should be done in pregnant women) may show a pituitary tumor or a cranial SOL.
Brain tumor(s)	Brain tumor often presents with signs of raised Intracranial pressure, such as headache, nausea, vomiting and seizures, also seen in eclampsia. Commom tumors that can be found are meningiomas, pituitary tumors, gliomas, etc.	Presence of past history of convulsions and absence of hypertension and proteinuria points towards cerebral pathology. Brain tumour may present with partial or localized seizures rather than GTCS and can have localized symptoms, such as visual disturbances in pituitary adenomas, localized sensory or motor changes, etc which could differentiate it from eclampsia. Also, brain imaging such as MRI can help establish the diagnosis.
Intracranial Haemorrhage/ Ruptured Brain Aneurysm	On physical exam, history and diagnostic test, ICH demonstrates headache, nausea and vomiting, vision abnormalities(such as blurring, scotomas, diminished vision), seizures, loss of consciousness also observed in Eclampsia.	The headache in ICH is often described as the worst headache of life. Presence of symptoms such as stiffness of neck, sensitivity to light, unilateral drooping of eyelid, unilateral symptoms of stroke(sensory or motor weakness), and absence of proteinuria, oliguria, edema, gestational hypertension differentiates its from Eclampsia. Neuroimaging (CT or MRI brain) will show AV malformation, ruptured blood vessel, blood in the subarachnoid space that distinguish it from Eclampsia.
Disseminated herpes simplex/ Herpes Simplex Encephalitis(HSE)	On physical exam and history Herpes Simplex Encephalitis(HSE) may present with Headache, Seizures, vision abnormalities, confusion, hyperactivity also observed in eclampsia.	On physical exam and history Herpes Simplex Encephalitis(HSE) demonstrates high fever, stiff neck, altered reflexes, drowsiness with stupor, localised symptoms such as aphasia, anosmia that distinguish it from [eclampsia]. Also, skin lesions in dermatomal distribution, immunocompromised status, retinitis points towards HSE. Detection of DNA or Zoster Antigen in CSF and Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) on CSF confirms infection with HSV. Treatment with antivirals(acyclovir) results in dramatic improvement.
Disseminated Sepsis	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].