Factors that influence maternal mortality in eclampsia

Three hundred sixty-five cases of eclampsia, including 49 women who died, were analyzed in order to determine factors which led to death. The age of the patient was clearly the most important factor. Older women tended to have coexisting renal and vascular disease and also manifested more hematologic abnormalities, in particular, disseminated intravascular coagulation. Other important factors leading to death were twin pregnancies, delay in hospitalization, failure to terminate the pregnancy, and the physician's unawareness of the severity of the mother's disease. The mortality after cesarean section was the same as in women delivered vaginally.