Convulsive toxemia of pregnancy (eclampsia)

A retrospective study investigated the epidemlologic characteristics of eclamptic patients seen at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Between January 1955 and June 1973, 194 patients were discharged from our hospital with the diagnosis of eclampsia. Although our incidence of severe forms of toxemia of pregnancy has decreased from 6.8 per 1,000 deliveries from 1955 to 1960 to 4.8 per 1,000 deliveries from 1970 to 1973, it is still three times higher than for the United States overall. Our patients generally were young, unmarried, and without adequate prenatal care. Primary therapy for severe preeclampsia and eclampsia consists of bed rest and administration of magnesium sulfate until stable, and then delivery. Therapy for the eclamptic patient includes control of the convulsions, administration of magnesium sulfate, and delivery when the patient's condition has stabilized. Antihypertensives and diuretics are used for cardiovascular indications.