Published: 18 Jun 2025

ICD9: 642.60      ICD10: O15.9      ICD11: JA25

Eclampsia is a rare but severe complication of pregnancy characterized by seizures or coma in a pregnant woman who has already developed pre-eclampsia.
It's a life-threatening condition for both the mother and the baby.

Here's a breakdown:

Preeclampsia: This is a condition that develops during pregnancy, usually after 20 weeks, and is characterized by:
High blood pressure
Protein in the urine (proteinuria)
Sometimes, other signs of organ damage, such as liver or kidney problems.

Eclampsia: This is when preeclampsia progresses to include seizures or coma. It represents a critical escalation of the condition.

Key Points:

Cause: The exact cause of preeclampsia and eclampsia is unknown, but it's believed to involve problems with the placenta.
Symptoms (beyond those of preeclampsia): The hallmark symptom is seizures or coma. Other symptoms preceding the seizures can include:
Severe headache
Vision changes (blurred vision, seeing spots)
Abdominal pain
Altered mental status
Treatment: The primary treatment for eclampsia is delivery of the baby, regardless of gestational age. Magnesium sulfate is also given to prevent further seizures. Other treatments focus on managing blood pressure and other complications.
Prevention: Regular prenatal care is crucial for monitoring blood pressure and urine protein levels, allowing for early detection and management of preeclampsia, which can help prevent eclampsia.
Risk Factors: Factors that increase the risk of preeclampsia (and therefore eclampsia) include:
First pregnancy
History of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
Chronic hypertension
Kidney disease
Diabetes
Multiple gestation (twins, triplets, etc.)
Obesity
Age over 35 or under 20

Why is it dangerous?

Eclampsia can cause severe complications, including:

Stroke
Brain damage
Aspiration pneumonia
Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
HELLP syndrome (a severe form of preeclampsia affecting the liver and blood)
Placental abruption (separation of the placenta from the uterine wall)
Preterm labor
Fetal growth restriction
Fetal death
Maternal death

Because of the serious risks, any pregnant woman experiencing symptoms of preeclampsia or eclampsia needs immediate medical attention.