title: Cerebral infarction in eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to characterize the neuroimaging findings of cerebral edema associated with eclamptic seizures by use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  During the 3-year period ending March 2002, 27 nulliparous women with eclampsia were evaluated with diffusion-weighted MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping. Those with findings of restricted diffusion suggestive of cytotoxic edema underwent neuroimaging again 6 weeks post partum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All but 2 of these 27 women (93%) had reversible vasogenic edema. Six were also found to have areas of cytotoxic edema consistent with cerebral infarction. Five of these 6 women had persistent imaging findings of infarction when studied post partum, however, without clinical neurologic deficits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The spectrum of cerebral lesions in eclampsia as seen with MRI varies from initially reversible areas of vasogenic edema that may progress to cytotoxic edema and infarction in up to a fourth of women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex, USA. g.g.zeeman@isala.nl
authors.forename: Gerda G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Zeeman
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fleckenstein
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Twickler
authors.forename: F Gary
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy