Eclampsia is seizures (convulsions) in a pregnant woman. These seizures are not related to an existing brain condition.
Doctors do not know exactly what causes eclampsia. The following may play a role:
- Blood vessel problems
- Brain and nervous system (neurological) factors
Eclampsia follows a condition calledpreeclampsia. This is a serious complication of pregnancy that includes high blood pressure and excess and rapid weight gain.
It is hard to predict which women with preeclampsia go on to have seizures. Women at high risk of seizures have severe preeclampsia and:
- Abnormal blood tests
- Very high blood pressure
- Vision changes
Your chance ofgetting preeclampsia increases when:
- You are35 or older
- You areAfrican American
- This is your first pregnancy
- You havediabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
- You are having more than one baby (twins, triplets, etc.)
- You are a teen
Symptoms of eclampsia include:
- Muscle aches and pains
- Severe agitation
Symptoms of preeclampsia include:
- Gaining more than 2 pounds a week
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Swelling of the hands and face
- Vision problems
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will do a physical exam to check for possible causes of seizures. Blood pressure and breathing rate will be checked and monitored.
Blood and urine tests may be done to check:
Delivering your babyis the main treatment for severe preeclampsia to prevent eclampsia.Allowing the pregnancy to go on can be dangerous to both you and the baby.
You may be given medicine to prevent seizures.These medicines are called anticonvulsants.
Your doctor may prescribe medicine to lower high blood pressure. If your blood pressurestays high, delivery may be needed, even if your baby is premature.
Women with eclampsia or preeclampsia have a higher risk of:
- Separation of the placenta (placenta abruptio)
- Premature delivery that leads to complications in the baby
- Blood clotting problem
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider or go to the emergency room if you have any symptoms of eclampsia or preeclampsia. Emergency symptoms include seizures or decreased alertness.
Seek medical care right away if you have any of the following:
- Bright red vaginal bleeding
- Little or no movement in the baby
- Severe headache
- Severe pain in the upper rightabdominal pain
- Vision loss
- Nausea or vomiting.
It is important for all pregnant women to get early and ongoing medical care. This allows for early diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as preeclampsia. Treating preeclampsia may prevent eclampsia.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOGPractice Bulletin No. 33. Diagnosis and management of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;99:159-167.
Houry DE, Salhi BA. Acute complications of pregnancy. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2009:chap 176.
Sibai BM. Hypertension. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, et al., eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 35.
Stead LG. Seizures in pregnancy/eclampsia. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2011;29:109-116.
Review Date: 2/8/2013
Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Bellevue, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Bethanne Black, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang.