Changing pattern of eclampsia over a 20-year period

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to compare eclamptic cases presenting at Lady Willingdon Hospital in 1978 and then in 1998. Out of 7673 patients delivered, 132 cases of eclampsia treated in 1978 were reviewed retrospectively. 9,650 women were delivered in 1998 and 97 cases of eclampsia treated were collected prospectively. It was noted that incidence of eclampsia fell almost 50% from 17/1,000 deliveries in 1978 to 10/ 1,000 deliveries in 1998. There was also a changing trend observed. In 1970's most eclamptic patients were unbooked while recently a lot of patients presenting with eclamptic fits were booked cases under care of general practitioners getting treatment for hypertension. Maternal death from eclampsia occurred in 12.1% of cases in 1978 but fell to 6.1% in 1998. Perinatal mortality rate - did not improve much. It was 432.6 / 1,000 cases of eclampsia in 1978 and 330 / 1,000 in 1998