[Reversible bilateral changes in cerebral proton-spin tomography in eclampsia].
METHODS
Case 1: A 19-year-old primigravida was hospitalised in the 24th week of pregnancy after a series of grand-mal seizures. Investigation showed the classical eclamptic triad of oedema, hypertension and proteinuria. Case 2: 6 days post-partum a 24-year-old primipara developed hypertension and typical clinical prodromata. Subsequently she had a series of sometimes initially focal grand-mal seizures.


METHODS
In both cases seizures ceased following pharmacological treatment. The pregnancy in the first case remained intact. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated characteristic findings in both cases, in case 1 bilateral disseminated supratentorial foci of oedema without space-occupying features, in case 2 occipital white matter oedema and several supratentorial foci. All changes were completely reversible, in case 1 after 10 days, in case 2 after 16 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Together with the clinical findings the focal changes on MRI provide a characteristic picture. MRI can thus be an important aid to the diagnosis of eclampsia and will prevent a misinterpretation as focal encephalitis or venous sinus thrombosis.
Müller
C
C
Neurologische Klinik, des Städtischen Klinikums Karisruhe.
Obhof
W
W
Druschky
K F
KF
Ulmer
H U
HU
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy
D000927:Anticonvulsants