Infection theory of eclampsia reevaluated

One hundred eclamptic patients and an equal number of carefully observed parturient controls were investigated clinically, radiologically, hematologically and bacteriologically for evidence of infection on admission. At that time, 77% of the eclamptics, but none of the other group, were febrile (temperature greater than 38 C). Sepsis was evidently greater among the eclamptics than the controls. Significantly more eclamptic patients with fever had infections as well, compared to those who were nonfebrile. The association of fever and infection with eclampsia was so striking that the author speculates on the possibility of a cause-and-effect relationship.