Eclampsia overview
|
Eclampsia Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Eclampsia overview On the Web |
|
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]
Pathophysiology
While multiple theories have been proposed to explain preeclampsia and eclampsia, it occurs only in the presence of a placenta and is resolved by its removal.[2] E. W. Page suggested that placental hypoperfusion is a key feature of the process. It is accompanied by increased sensitivity of the maternal vasculature to pressure agents leading to vasospasm and hypoperfusion of multiple organs. Further, an activation of the coagulation cascade leads to microthombi formation and aggravates the perfusion problem. Loss of plasma from the vascular tree with the resulting edema additionally compromises the situation. These events lead to signs and symptoms of toxemia including hypertension, renal, pulmonary, and hepatic dysfunction, and - in eclampsia specifically - cerebral dysfunction.[2] Preclinical markers of the disease process are signs of increased platelet and endothelial activation.[2]
Epidemiology and demographics
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), defined as a sex-specific cardiovascular disease, is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality globally and a critical threat to maternal and infant health. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder occurring usually after 20 weeks of gestation and if left untreated, it progresses to eclampsia. Preeclampsia and eclampsia are not distinct disorders but the manifestation of the spectrum of clinical symptoms of the same condition. Although preeclampsia prevails to be a significant public health threat in both developed and developing nations bringing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, the impact of the disease is witnessed to be harsher in the developing countries, where, unlike other more prevalent causes of maternal mortality (such as haemorrhage and sepsis), medical interventions may be ineffective due to late presentation of cases. The problem is confounded by the continued ambivalence of the aetiology and the unpredictable behavior of the disease. According to WHO, the incidence of preeclampsia is seven times higher in developing countries (2.8% of live births) than in developed countries (0.4%). In developing countries the prevalence of preeclampsia, the precursor of eclampsia, ranges from 1.8% to 16.7% and from 1990 to 2019, the incidence, prevalence, death and YLDs were highest in populations aged 25–29 years.
Risk Factors
The various risk factors associated with the development of eclampsia encompass a personal or family history of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, nulliparity, primigravida, long interpregnancy intervals, conditions with a large placenta such as multiple gestations(twins or triplets) and H Mole, women with preexisting conditions such as chronic hypertension, history of gestational hypertension in the previous pregnancy, renal diseases, diabetes, gestational diabetes, obesity, certain thrombophilic diseases (such as the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, anti-thrombin deficiency), connective tissue disorders, SLE and genetics.
Prevention
Detection and management of preeclampsia is critical to reduce the risk of eclampsia. Appropriate management of patients with preeclampsia generally involves the use of magnesium sulfate as an agent to prevent convulsions, and thus preventing eclampsia.