ABSTRACT
AIM: To ascertain the characteristics, clinical features, and maternal fetal outcome in eclampsia in a tertiary referral center (Service A, CMNT). METHODS: 28 case notes were retrieved retrospectively and data was analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Twenty eight pregnancies complicated by eclampsia were identified. 14.8% of the women were nulliparous and 50% were primiparous. The mean age was 32.5 years. Mean gestational age at the time of seizures was 33.4 weeks' gestation. Twenty-two women had antepartum seizures (78.57%); 8 of the 22 had seizures at home. 6 women had postpartum seizures (21.42%). Headache preceded seizures in 17 cases (60%) hyperreflexia preceded seizures in 16 cases. 50% of women presented with systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 160 mmHg and 42.85% presented with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 110 mmHg. One case of maternal mortality are noted. There were 12 perinatal deaths. Three patients had intrauterine fetal deaths. CONCLUSION: Eclampsia increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. She was not found to be a progression from severe preeclampsia. There is a need to develop new methods to identify this group of patients in an effort to further reduce the prevalence of this dangerous condition.
