Eclampsia is seizures (convulsions) in a pregnant woman. These seizures are not related to an existing brain condition.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Doctors do not know exactly what causes eclampsia. The following may play a role:
Blood vessel problems
Brain and nervous system (neurological) factors
Diet
Genes
Eclampsia follows a condition called preeclampsia. This is a serious complication of pregnancy that includes high blood pressure and excess and rapid weight gain.
It is hard to predict which women with preeclampsia go on to have seizures. Women at high risk of seizures have severe preeclampsia and:
Abnormal blood tests
Headaches
Very high blood pressure
Vision changes
Your chance of getting preeclampsia increases when:
You are 35 or older
You are African American
This is your first pregnancy
You have diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
You are having more than one baby (twins, triplets, etc.)
You are a teen
Symptoms
Symptoms of eclampsia include:
Muscle aches and pains
Seizures
Severe agitation
Unconsciousness
Symptoms of preeclampsia include:
Gaining more than 2 pounds a week
Headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Stomach pain
Swelling of the hands and face
Vision problems
Signs and tests
The health care provider will do a physical exam to check for possible causes of seizures. Blood pressure and breathing rate will be checked and monitored.
Delivering your baby is the main treatment for severe preeclampsia to prevent eclampsia. Allowing the pregnancy to go on can be dangerous to both you and the baby.
You may be given medicine to prevent seizures. These medicines are called anticonvulsants.
Your doctor may prescribe medicine to lower high blood pressure. If your blood pressure stays high, delivery may be needed, even if your baby is premature.
Complications
Women with eclampsia or preeclampsia have a higher risk of:
Premature delivery that leads to complications in the baby
Blood clotting problem
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider or go to the emergency room if you have any symptoms of eclampsia or preeclampsia. Emergency symptoms include seizures or decreased alertness.
Seek medical care right away if you have any of the following:
Bright red vaginal bleeding
Little or no movement in the baby
Severe headache
Severe pain in the upper right abdominal pain
Vision loss
Nausea or vomiting.
Prevention
It is important for all pregnant women to get early and ongoing medical care. This allows for early diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as preeclampsia. Treating preeclampsia may prevent eclampsia.
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 33. Diagnosis and management of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;99:159-167.
Houry DE, Salhi BA. Acute complications of pregnancy. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2009:chap 176.
Sibai BM. Hypertension. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, et al., eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 35.
Stead LG. Seizures in pregnancy/eclampsia. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2011;29:109-116.
Review Date:
2/8/2013
Reviewed By:
Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Bellevue, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Bethanne Black, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang.
