Cerebral magnetic resonance angiographic findings in severe preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to investigate the cerebral pathophysiology of severe preeclampsia using the noninvasive method of magnetic resonance angiography.


METHODS
We studied cerebral magnetic resonance angiography findings in 9 severely preeclamptic patients.


RESULTS
Magnetic resonance angiographies were abnormal on first scanning within 48 h postpartum, followed by normal findings on repeat scanning during the 1st postpartum month in 6 patients. The most common abnormality was vascular narrowing of anterior cerebral artery and basilar artery. Three of these 6 patients complained of headaches and/or visual disturbances.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that cerebral artery vasospasm is seen in some severe preeclamptic patients.
Matsuda
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kagoshima City Hospital, Japan.
Tomosugi
T
T
Maeda
Y
Y
Kamitomo
M
M
Kanayama
N
N
Terao
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000592:standards; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography