BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuEclampsiaPregnancy - eclampsia; Preeclampsia - eclampsia; High blood pressure - eclampsia; Seizure - eclampsia; Hypertension - eclampsiaEclampsia is the new onset of seizures or coma in a pregnant woman with preeclampsia. These seizures are not related to an existing brain condition.SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes The exact cause of eclampsia is not known. Factors that may play a role include:Blood vessel problems Brain and nervous system (neurological) factors Diet Genes Eclampsia follows a condition called preeclampsia. This is a complication of pregnancy in which a woman has high blood pressure and other findings. PreeclampsiaPreeclampsia is high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage that occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy. While it is rare, pree...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Most women with preeclampsia do not go on to have seizures. It is hard to predict which women will. Women at high risk of seizures often have severe preeclampsia with findings such as:Abnormal blood tests Headaches Very high blood pressure Vision changes Abdominal pain Your chances of getting preeclampsia increase when:You are 35 or older. You are African American. This is your first pregnancy. You have diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease. DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You are having more than 1 baby (such as twins or triplets). You are a teen. You are obese. You have a family history of preeclampsia. You have autoimmune disorders. You have undergone in vitro fertilization. Symptoms Symptoms of eclampsia include:Seizures Severe agitation Unconsciousness Most women will have these symptoms of preeclampsia before the seizure:Headaches Nausea and vomiting Stomach pain Swelling of the hands and face Vision problems, such as loss of vision, blurred vision, double vision, or missing areas in the visual field Exams and Tests The health care provider will do a physical exam to look for causes of seizures. Your blood pressure and breathing rate will be checked regularly.Blood and urine tests may be done to check:Blood clotting factors Creatinine CreatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hematocrit Uric acid Uric acidUric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are normally produced in the body and are also found in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function Liver functionLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Platelet count Platelet countA platelet count is a lab test to measure how many platelets you have in your blood. Platelets are particles in the blood that help the blood clot. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Protein in the urine Hemoglobin level Treatment The main treatment to prevent severe preeclampsia from progressing to eclampsia is giving birth to the baby. Letting the pregnancy go on can be dangerous for you and the baby.You may be given medicine to prevent seizures. These medicines are called anticonvulsants. Your provider may give medicine to lower high blood pressure. If your blood pressure stays high, delivery may be needed, even if it is before the baby is due. Possible Complications Women with eclampsia or preeclampsia have a higher risk for: Separation of the placenta (placenta abruptio) Placenta abruptioThe placenta is the organ that supplies food and oxygen to the baby during pregnancy. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Premature delivery that leads to complications in the baby Blood clotting problems Stroke Infant death When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider or go to the emergency room if you have any symptoms of eclampsia or preeclampsia. Emergency symptoms include seizures or decreased alertness.Seek medical care right away if you have any of the following:Bright red vaginal bleeding Little or no movement in the baby Severe headache Severe pain in the upper right abdominal area Vision loss Nausea or vomiting Prevention Getting medical care during your entire pregnancy is important in preventing complications. This allows problems such as preeclampsia to be detected and treated early. Getting treatment for preeclampsia may prevent eclampsia.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Hypertension in pregnancy. Report of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(5):1122-1131. PMID: 24150027 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150027/.Harper LM, Tita A, Karumanchi SA. Pregnancy-related hypertension. In: Resnik R, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 48.Henn MC, Lall MD. Complications of pregnancy. In: Walls RM, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 173.Sibai BM. Preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 38.AllVideoImagesTogPreeclampsia - illustration Preeclampsia is the development of swelling, elevated blood pressure, sudden and rapid weight gain and protein in the urine during pregnancy. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs in approximately 5% of the population.PreeclampsiaillustrationPreeclampsia - illustration Preeclampsia is the development of swelling, elevated blood pressure, sudden and rapid weight gain and protein in the urine during pregnancy. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs in approximately 5% of the population.PreeclampsiaillustrationRelated Information Seizures(Symptoms)Preeclampsia(Condition)High blood pressure in adults – hypertension(Condition)Diabetes(Condition)Renal(Special Topic)Placenta abruption - definition(Condition)Premature infant(Condition)High blood pressure - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/10/2022 Reviewed By: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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EclampsiaPregnancy - eclampsia; Preeclampsia - eclampsia; High blood pressure - eclampsia; Seizure - eclampsia; Hypertension - eclampsiaEclampsia is the new onset of seizures or coma in a pregnant woman with preeclampsia. These seizures are not related to an existing brain condition.SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes The exact cause of eclampsia is not known. Factors that may play a role include:Blood vessel problems Brain and nervous system (neurological) factors Diet Genes Eclampsia follows a condition called preeclampsia. This is a complication of pregnancy in which a woman has high blood pressure and other findings. PreeclampsiaPreeclampsia is high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage that occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy. While it is rare, pree...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Most women with preeclampsia do not go on to have seizures. It is hard to predict which women will. Women at high risk of seizures often have severe preeclampsia with findings such as:Abnormal blood tests Headaches Very high blood pressure Vision changes Abdominal pain Your chances of getting preeclampsia increase when:You are 35 or older. You are African American. This is your first pregnancy. You have diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease. DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You are having more than 1 baby (such as twins or triplets). You are a teen. You are obese. You have a family history of preeclampsia. You have autoimmune disorders. You have undergone in vitro fertilization. Symptoms Symptoms of eclampsia include:Seizures Severe agitation Unconsciousness Most women will have these symptoms of preeclampsia before the seizure:Headaches Nausea and vomiting Stomach pain Swelling of the hands and face Vision problems, such as loss of vision, blurred vision, double vision, or missing areas in the visual field Exams and Tests The health care provider will do a physical exam to look for causes of seizures. Your blood pressure and breathing rate will be checked regularly.Blood and urine tests may be done to check:Blood clotting factors Creatinine CreatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hematocrit Uric acid Uric acidUric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are normally produced in the body and are also found in...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function Liver functionLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Platelet count Platelet countA platelet count is a lab test to measure how many platelets you have in your blood. Platelets are particles in the blood that help the blood clot. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Protein in the urine Hemoglobin level Treatment The main treatment to prevent severe preeclampsia from progressing to eclampsia is giving birth to the baby. Letting the pregnancy go on can be dangerous for you and the baby.You may be given medicine to prevent seizures. These medicines are called anticonvulsants. Your provider may give medicine to lower high blood pressure. If your blood pressure stays high, delivery may be needed, even if it is before the baby is due. Possible Complications Women with eclampsia or preeclampsia have a higher risk for: Separation of the placenta (placenta abruptio) Placenta abruptioThe placenta is the organ that supplies food and oxygen to the baby during pregnancy. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Premature delivery that leads to complications in the baby Blood clotting problems Stroke Infant death When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider or go to the emergency room if you have any symptoms of eclampsia or preeclampsia. Emergency symptoms include seizures or decreased alertness.Seek medical care right away if you have any of the following:Bright red vaginal bleeding Little or no movement in the baby Severe headache Severe pain in the upper right abdominal area Vision loss Nausea or vomiting Prevention Getting medical care during your entire pregnancy is important in preventing complications. This allows problems such as preeclampsia to be detected and treated early. Getting treatment for preeclampsia may prevent eclampsia.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Hypertension in pregnancy. Report of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(5):1122-1131. PMID: 24150027 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24150027/.Harper LM, Tita A, Karumanchi SA. Pregnancy-related hypertension. In: Resnik R, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 48.Henn MC, Lall MD. Complications of pregnancy. In: Walls RM, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 173.Sibai BM. Preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 38.