Role of antenatal care in reducing incidence of eclampsia in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Eclampsia is an extremely severe form of preeclampsia. It is characterized by sudden onset of generalized tonicclonic convulsions or coma in pregnancy or postpartum, unrelated to other cerebral conditions in patients with signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. According to revised definition, Preeclampsia is hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation with one or more of the following: proteinuria, maternal organ dysfunction including renal, hepatic, hematological or neurological complications or foetal growth restriction. Eclampsia can manifest itself in unusual and unpredictable manner in well monitored patients without risk factors. The diagnosis must be made quickly for taking urgent and appropriate obstetric management. Almost all cases (91%) of eclampsia develop at or beyond 28 weeks. Eclampsia occurring before the 20 week of gestation has usually been reported with molar or hydropic degeneration of the placenta, with or without a coexistent fetus. It can occur during antepartum (38-53%), intrapartum (18-36%) or in post partum period (11-44%). Approximately 1 in ABSTRACT