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Eclampsia - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Toxemia con convulsiones

Definición:

Es la presencia de crisis epilépticas (convulsiones) en una mujer embarazada que no tienen relación con una afección cerebral preexistente.

Ver también: preeclampsia

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

Aún no se comprenden bien la causa de la eclampsia. Los investigadores creen que los siguientes factores pueden jugar un papel:

Vasos sanguíneos
Factores cerebrales y del sistema nervioso (neurológicos)
Dieta
Genes

Sin embargo, aún no se ha comprobado ninguna teoría.

La eclampsia se presenta después de una preeclampsia, una complicación grave del embarazo caracterizada por hipertensión arterial, así como exceso y rápido aumento de peso.

Es difícil predecir cuáles de las mujeres que presentan preeclampsia padecerán las convulsiones. Las mujeres en alto riesgo de sufrir convulsiones padecen preeclampsia severa y:

Exámenes sanguíneos anormales
Dolores de cabeza
Presión arterial muy alta
Cambios en la visión

La eclampsia ocurre en aproximadamente 1 de cada 2.000 a 3.000 embarazos. Los siguientes factores incrementan las probabilidades de que una mujer padezca preeclampsia:

Tener 35 años o más
Ser de raza negra
Primer embarazo
Antecedentes de diabetes, hipertensión arterial o enfermedad renal (del riñón)
Embarazos múltiples (gemelos, trillizos, etc)
Embarazo en adolescentes

Preeclampsia

Reviewed last on: 2/21/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

ACOG Practice Bulletin Committee. Diagnosis and management of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;99:159-167.

Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL. Obstetrics - Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 4th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2002:974-983.

Sibai BM. Hypertension. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2007:chap 33.

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