ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

What is Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia?

15:58 - 6 May , 2021

Disease

They are conditions that can appear after the first twenty weeks of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia specifically refers to the development or worsening of pre-existing high blood pressure. Meanwhile, eclampsia is a serious consequence of untreated pre-eclampsia, manifested by seizures.

Potential risks:

Although their origin is still unknown, there are some risk factors associated with their appearance. For example: having kidney problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight or obese, having a family history of pre-eclampsia, or being older than 35 years.

Signs and symptoms Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

In the case of pre-eclampsia, the most frequent symptom is a significant rise in blood pressure over several days, that is, equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg. In addition to this, severe headaches, altered mental state, dizziness, and nausea often occur. In the case of eclampsia, severe seizures, breathing, or visual problems appear, which could indicate the presence of a stroke.

Diagnosis and treatment Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

The diagnosis will depend on some criteria such as the weeks of pregnancy, your blood pressure, and tests to evaluate the presence of protein in urine.

In case of confirmation, you will be prescribed medications to regulate your blood pressure, and complementary laboratory studies will be requested. If you have a more serious condition, it could be necessary to administer other types of medications and even a premature c-section.

At ABC Medical Center we have a team of experts in the various branches of gynecology ready to serve you with world-class quality and safety standards, as well as the humane treatment and warmth that characterizes us. Come to us and you will receive the best care available in Mexico and Latin America.

We are pioneers in gynecologic laparoscopy, which allows us to offer you the best treatment options, with shorter hospitalization times, as well as a faster and less painful recovery, taking care of the aesthetic aspect with smaller scars than open surgeries. We offer you robot-assisted gynecologic surgeries, being an even less invasive and more precise procedure that provides benefits such as:

20% of the total robot surgeries of ABC Medical Center correspond to this specialty, which places us as a cutting-edge institution with vast experience and leadership in the field for the benefit of our patients.

Fuentes: 

  • mayoclinic.org
  • cigna.com
  • medlineplus.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • Acosta AY, Bosch CC, López BR, et al. Preeclampsia y eclampsia en el período gravídico y puerperal en pacientes ingresadas en cuidados intensivos. Revista Cubana de Obstetricia y Ginecología. 2019;45(1):14-24.
  • Álvarez PL, Acosta M, Delgado JJ. Arterial hypertension and pregnancy. En: Sánchez ST. Obstetricia y Ginecología, Vol. 2. Ed. Cuba: Ed. Ciencias Médicas; 2014; p. 321-2.
  • Rigol Ricardo O, Sinobas del Olmo H, Famot Cardoso V. Riesgo obstétrico. En: Ginecología y Obstetricia. T 2. La Habana: Editorial Pueblo y Educación; 1984. p. 1-8.

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