[Clinical analysis of 62 cases of encephalopathy during puerperium].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical features, therapeutic methods and prognosis of encephalopathy during puerperium.


METHODS
The clinical data of 62 patients with onset of mental symptoms and signs of extensive cerebral involvement during puerperium were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
The clinical representations and treatment method of encephalopathy during puerperium were similar to those of viral encephalitis, but the former disease showed no evident signs of infection in the initial stage, with longer course and poorer curative effect and prognosis than viral encephalitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with onset of mental abnormalities during puerperium should receive systemic neurological examination as early as possible for timely diagnoses and treatment. In early stage of the disease, cerebral edema should be brought under control and the duration of edema minimized so as to prevent or alleviate the degeneration and demyelination of the cerebral cells. Prolonged comprehensive rehabilitation treatments are recommended for the patients' optimal recovery in later stages of the disease.
Jin
Mei
M
Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. tor_jin@hotmail.com
Lin
Jun-Hua
JH
Wang
Shi-Lei
SL
Jin
Hui
H
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*