Neurologic involvement in hypertensive disease of pregnancy

Neurologic manifestations of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) vary from diffuse symptoms such as headache and confusion to focal signs such as paralysis and visual loss. Recognition of the neurologic symptoms associated with PIH is essential for early diagnosis of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. The recent advances in neuroradiologic imaging, including the use of computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have greatly enhanced our understanding of the correlation between neurologic complaints and neuroanatomic pathological changes characteristic of preeclampsia and eclampsia. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the pathophysiologic changes in the central nervous system (CNS) caused by PIH. The diagnostic possibilities offered by new imaging techniques are emphasized.