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Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia (Toxemia of Pregnancy) Updated 4/2011

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BASICS

  • Description
  • Epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • General Prevention
  • Pathophysiology
  • Associated Conditions

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Additional Treatment
  • Medication (Drugs)

Ongoing Care

  • Follow-Up Recommendations
  • Diet
  • Patient Education
  • Prognosis
  • Complications
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description

Pre-eclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy developing at the 20th week (or beyond), with hypertension, proteinuria, and/or edema with poor perfusion of vital organs.

  • May progress from mild to life-threatening in hours to days
  • The disease may include rapid weight gain and face and hand edema. The disorder is reversible by ending the pregnancy if at term or, if maternal or fetal health are in danger, by preterm delivery.
  • Eclampsia is defined as seizure activity or coma in a patient with pre-eclampsia without underlying neurologic disease.
  • Most postpartum cases occur within 48 hours of delivery but can occur up to 4 weeks postpartum.
  • System(s) affected: Cardiovascular; Renal; Reproductive; Feto-Placental; CNS; Hepatic
  • Synonym ...

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See Also
Images >
Magnetic resonance imaging in eclampsia.Credit: From Gold DH, MD, and Weingeist TA, MD, PhD. Color Atlas of the Eye in Systemic Disease. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001.
Diseases & Conditions >