title: Seizures in pregnancy: epilepsy, eclampsia, and stroke.
abstract: Seizures during pregnancy complicate <1% of all gestations; however, they are associated with increased adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes (acute and long term). The differential diagnosis of seizures in pregnancy is extensive. Determining the underlying etiology is crucial in the management of these patients. Medical providers caring for pregnant women should be educated about possible etiologies of seizures during pregnancy and the importance of prompt management of these women in a timely fashion. Evaluation and management should be performed in a stepwise fashion and may require a multidisciplinary approach with other specialties such as neurology. The objective of this review is to increase awareness and to provide a stepwise approach toward the diagnosis and management of pregnancies complicated by seizures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Baha M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sibai
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: eclampsia; epilepsy; pregnancy; seizure; stroke