[Eclampsia: retrospective study about 16 cases]

To determine the etiologic factors, circumstances of diagnosis, obstetrical management and complications of eclampsia and to value the maternal and perinatal outcomes.

We conducted a retrospective descriptive study, from January 1996 to December 2006 in a maternity type IIB.

Sixteen cases of eclampsia were studied. The prevalence of eclampsia over the study period was 8.1 per 10,000 births, without annual change in the incidence. The mean age of the patients was 27.8+/-6.7 years. The major risk factor was the primipaternity (87.5%). The eclampsia occurred in ante-, peri- and post-partum in 56, 6 and 38% of the cases, respectively. In cases of eclampsia, 75% of the patients had elevated blood pressure, 93% presented headache, but 62% presented with an atypical form with less than three functional symptoms (headache, visual trouble, hyperreflexia). Various treatments had been started: antihypertensive treatment (75%), antiepileptic treatment (69%) and magnesium sulphate (94%). Eleven patients had developed complications, mainly HELLP syndrome (10 patients). No maternal death was noted. The mean birth weight was 2366+/-818 g, 43.8% of children had birth weight less than the 10th percentile, and 87.5% of children were girls. One fetal and one perinatal death at day 19 had been noted.

Nowadays, the physiopathology of eclampsia remains misunderstood. It is difficult to establish risk factors, the primipaternity being certainly one of these. Eclampsia may occur in an atypical and unforeseeable form in well followed patients, without risk factor. The diagnosis should be done quickly for an adapted treatment and obstetrical management.