Late Postpartum Eclampsia 6 Days After Delivery: A Case Report.

Lee, Dong Heon

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2001;44(12):2333-2338.
Published online December 1, 2001.

Late Postpartum Eclampsia 6 Days After Delivery: A Case Report.

Dong Heon Lee

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, Korea.

Abstract

Eclampsia, a dramatic and often unpredictable complication of pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders, is diagnosed by sudden hypertension, proteinuria, edema and seizures. Eclampsia is characterized by generalized tonic-clonic convulsions that develop in women with pregnancy induced or aggravated hypertension. Because identification of patients at risk and preventative therapies are imperfect, eclamptic seizures continue to occur occasionally during puerperium. Postpartum eclampsia is a rare, frightening, and potentially tragic complication of hypertensive pregnancies, usually developing within 48 hours of delivery. But otherwise typical cases are reported up to 26 days postpartum. Another diagnosis should be considered in women with the onset of convulsions more than 48 hours postpartum, and it required rapid, precise clinical evaluation by multiple specialists. We described a case of eclampsia occurring 6 days after parturition. Theoretical and proved pathophysiologic derangements of this serious pregnancy-related disorder are also reviewed.

Key Words: seizures, postpartum eclampsia