The diagnostic value of cranial computed tomography in complicated eclampsia

Cranial CT scanning was performed in twenty-two patients with severe neurological complications secondary to eclampsia. All patients had repetitive and/or prolonged convulsions. In addition, three patients were in prolonged coma, and three had cortical blindness. One of the patients had central facial paresis, and two had hemiparesis. In seventeen patients, abnormal CT findings were identified. Diffuse cerebral edema was determined in four patients. The most frequent finding was bilateral low-density areas in the parietal and/or occipital lobes (7 cases). In three patients, CT revealed bilateral low-density areas in the basal ganglia. All women but three recovered completely. Two of the three patients who died had intracranial massive hemorrhage. Follow-up CT examinations demonstrated complete resolution of the low-density areas and slight cortical atrophy in three of four patients. Complete recovery of the patients associated with complete resolution of the low-density lesions suggested that these lesions corresponded to edema. We concluded that CT is useful in patients with complicated eclampsia because it may orientate management.