[Adolescent pregnancy and the development of pre-eclampsia--eclampsia]

The authors aim to investigate the incidence and severity of pre-eclampsia--eclampsia in adolescent pregnancies (age under 17 years) and to evaluate the outcome of pregnancy and birth in this patients. With this purpose we compare obstetric and neonatal results in 528 adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years with the results of a control group of mothers aged between 20 and 24 years. We used clinical observation, laboratory findings, instrumental diagnostics and scoring systems. Data were computer-processed. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia was diagnosed in 17 cases (3.22%), with mild forms prevailing (2.46%). Eclampsia developed in 4 pregnant (0.76%)-an incidence differing from that cited in the literature. We are impressed by the outmost severity of eclampsia in the adolescents, with 1 case of fatal outcome. Seven of the newborns were retarded. The most frequent indications to caesarean section were placental ablation and foetal distress syndrome. Operative delivery was performed in 41.18%. One case of foetal antenatal death and one death in the early neonatal period were observed, both in mothers with eclampsia. The authors conclude that the incidence of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in adolescents is lower than in general obstetric population, but if eclampsia develops, it is fulminant and in some cases is fatal for the mother or the foetus. This grave prognosis may be related to inappropriate antenatal care in this patient group.