Electro-encephalogram as predictor of eclampsia

To assess the efficacy of using electroencephalographic changes for predicting eclampsia.

The observational case-control study was conducted in the Obstetrics Department of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, from April 1, 2016, to April 1, 2018, and comprised women with singleton pregnancy who had 24-40 weeks of gestation. They were divided into two groups as preeclamptic cases and normotensive controls. The groups were compared regarding electroencephalographic changes and the development of eclampsia in those with abnormal changes. Data was analysed using EVEIWS 9.

Of the 100 subjects, 50(50%) were in each of the two groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic and clinical data (p>0.05) except blood pressure (p<0.05). Among the patients, 31(62%) had electroencephalographic abnormalities, while among the controls 3(6%) showed abnormal waves (p<0.001)..Focal sharp and intermittent slow waves were the commonest abnormal waves detected but the percentages of these waves between the groups were statistically not significant (p>0.05).

Women with preeclampsia were found to have electroencephalographic abnormalities which might predict an eclamptic fit.