Critical urgency
-Very severe
Appearance of seizures or coma in a pregnant woman who has usually been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia (hypertension and protein loss in urine).
The cause is unknown but an inherited tendency has been described, and is more common in black women under 20 or over 35 years old and primiparous.
It is a life-threatening emergency for the woman and the foetus, so, it is vital to go to a hospital with an obstetrics service immediately. Delivery of the foetus is the treatment of choice, including an emergency C-section. In the meantime, drugs will be used to control seizures and high blood pressure.
- Errol R Norwitz, MD, PhD, MBA. Eclampsia. UpToDate. Aug 09, 2016.
- Berhan Y, Berhan A. Should magnesium sulfate be administered to women with mild pre-eclampsia? A systematic review of published reports on eclampsia. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2015; 41:831.
- Sibai BM. Diagnosis, prevention, and management of eclampsia. Obstet Gynecol 2005; 105:402.
- Mayama M, Uno K, Tano S, et al. Incidence of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in eclamptic and patients with preeclampsia with neurologic symptoms. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016; 215:239.e1.
- Barbieri RL, Repke JT. Trastornos médicos durante el embarazo. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 1. 19º Edición: 49
Dr. Sara Vitoria
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