Eclampsia

M A Villar1, B M Sibai

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis.

The incidence of eclampsia has decreased over the past two decades. Proper prenatal care with early identification and hospitalization of patients with mild pre-eclampsia is responsible for this reduction. Modifications of current obstetrics teachings designed to heighten awareness of the risk of both midtrimester and late-postpartum eclampsia could further reduce its occurrence. However, there will always be a small number of women in whom eclampsia is not preventable. Eclamptic patients should be counseled regarding the increased risk of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia in their sisters and daughters as well as their increased risk for both recurrence of the disease and perinatal death in subsequent pregnancies.

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