Atypical eclampsia: a case report and review.
Up to one-third of cases of eclampsia occur in the postpartum period. Often there is evidence of preeclampsia, which alerts the physician to be prepared for the possibility of seizures. Eclampsia is an obstetrical emergency often requiring intensive care and monitoring. This reports the case of a 33-year-old gravida 5 para 4 abortus 1 who presented ten days postpartum with eclampsia. The patient had no history of hypertension, edema, or proteinuria during her prenatal visits or hospitalization, and has no history of preeclampsia or eclampsia in previous pregnancies. This case illustrates the rare occurrence of eclampsia late in the postpartum period and the equally rare onset of eclampsia without prior evidence of preeclampsia during her pregnancy. It is followed by a brief review of the relevant literature.
Graves
J C
JC
Department of Family Medicine, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, 1100 E. Third St., Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA.
Vandergriff
J V
JV
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D000328:Adult; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000150:complications / Q000652:urine; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications