Clinical and Biomarkers Difference in Prepartum and Postpartum Eclampsia

Prevalence of persistent hypertension following pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Background

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can lead to persistent hypertension (pHTN) in the months and even years following delivery. However, its prevalence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is not well characterized.

Objective

To synthesize available evidence on the pHTN prevalence following a pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in LMICs.

Search strategy

PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Global Health (EBSCOhost), and Scopus from inception through a search date of July 12, 2022, and updated on January 2, 2024.

Selection criteria

Cross-sectional studies and cohort studies reporting pHTN prevalence were eligible.

Data collection and analysis

We conducted a narrative synthesis of data and categorized reported prevalence time points into several broader categories. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa checklist to assess the risk of bias. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022345739).

Results

We reviewed 1,584 abstracts and identified 22 studies that reported pHTN between 2000 and 2023 from 14 LMICs. The overall prevalence of pHTN ranged between 6.9% and 62.2%, with the highest prevalence noted within African studies and the lowest in South American studies. Estimates at different follow-up periods postpartum were 6.9%-42.9% at six weeks, 34.0%-62.2% at three months, 14.8%-62.2% at six months, 12.7%-61.2% at 12 months, and 7.5%-31.8% at more than 12 months. The quality score of the selected studies ranged from 50% to 100%.

Conclusions

The extant literature reports a high prevalence of pHTN in LMICs following a pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders. To reduce long-term complications of pHTN, programs should emphasize early screening and linkages to long-term care for at-risk women.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=345739, PROSPERO (CRD42022345739).

Atypical eclampsia at primary health care in a remote area: A case report

BACKGROUND

Eclampsia is a generalized tonic-clonic seizure induced by pregnancy. It contributes to a high rate of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Eclampsia is characterised by classic signs such as elevated blood pressure, proteinuria, and seizures. However, it may occur in the absence of hypertension and/or proteinuria. The uncommon appearance of eclampsia makes it difficult to immediately assess and treat it. In addition, the occurrence of this case in a remote area makes it more challenging to handle. The objective of this case report is to increase awareness of uncommon manifestations of eclampsia, particularly in limited-resource settings.

CASE SUMMARY

A young primigravida experienced a generalised seizure without hypertension and/or proteinuria. Sudden hearing loss, blurred vision, and vomiting were complained about before the seizure attack. The patient was diagnosed with eclampsia. A loading dose of magnesium sulphate was administered immediately. The patient was referred from community healthcare to a hospital and discharged without any complications.

CONCLUSION

Atypical eclampsia may be a diagnostic challenge. However, other symptoms may be beneficial, such as awareness of eclampsia signs.

Postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia: defining its place and management among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

High blood pressure in the postpartum period is most commonly seen in women with antenatal hypertensive disorders, but it can develop de novo in the postpartum time frame. Whether postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia represents a separate entity from preeclampsia or eclampsia with antepartum onset is unclear. Although definitions vary, the diagnosis of postpartum preeclampsia should be considered in women with new-onset hypertension 48 hours to 6 weeks after delivery. New-onset postpartum preeclampsia is an understudied disease entity with few evidence-based guidelines to guide diagnosis and management. We propose that new-onset hypertension with the presence of any severe features (including severely elevated blood pressure in women with no history of hypertension) be referred to as postpartum preeclampsia after exclusion of other etiologies to facilitate recognition and timely management. Older maternal age, black race, maternal obesity, and cesarean delivery are all associated with a higher risk of postpartum preeclampsia. Most women with delayed-onset postpartum preeclampsia present within the first 7 to 10 days after delivery, most frequently with neurologic symptoms, typically headache. The cornerstones of treatment include the use of antihypertensive agents, magnesium, and diuresis. Postpartum preeclampsia may be associated with a higher risk of maternal morbidity than preeclampsia with antepartum onset, yet it remains an understudied disease process. Future research should focus on the pathophysiology and specific risk factors. A better understanding is imperative for patient care and counseling and anticipatory guidance before hospital discharge and is important for the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality in the postpartum period.

Systematic and meta-analysis of factors associated with preeclampsia and eclampsia in sub-Saharan Africa

Background

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are common complications of pregnancy globally, including sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Although it has a high burden on maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, evidence on the risk of the problem is limited. Therefore, the aim of this review was to examine the factors associated with preeclampsia and eclampsia among mothers in SSA countries.

Methods

We searched article from SSA countries using electronic database MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL published in English from January 2000 to May 2020. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted and assessed the quality of the articles. Both random and fixed effect model were used for analysis. Heterogeneity of the studies and publication bias were checked. STATA 16 used for analysis.

Results

Fifty-one studies met the inclusion criteria and included in this review. The following factors were identified through meta-analysis: being primiparous (OR: 2.52; 95% CI:1.19, 3.86), previous history of maternal preeclampsia/eclampsia (OR:5.6; 95% CI:1.82, 9.28), family history of preeclampsia/eclampsia (OR:1.68; 95% CI:1.26, 2.11), high maternal body mass index (OR: 1.69; 95% CI:1.17, 2.21), chronic hypertension (OR: 2.52; 95% CI:1.29, 3.74), anaemia during pregnancy (OR: 3.22; 95% CI:2.70, 3.75) and lack of antenatal care visits (OR: 2.71; 95% CI:1.45, 3.96). There was inconclusive evidence for a relationship with a number of other factors, such as nutrition and related factors, antenatal care visits, birth spacing, and other factors due to few studies found in our review.

Conclusions

The risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia is worse among women who have a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia (either themselves or family members), primiparous, obesity and overweight, living with chronic disease, having anaemia during pregnancy and absence from ANC visits. Therefore, investment must be made in women’s health needs to reduce the problem and health service providers need to give due attention to high-risk women.

Postpartum Headache

Approximately 40% of all women report experiencing headaches during the postpartum period, regardless of a previous headache history. This case narrative describes the clinical case of a 22-year-old woman who presented for the evaluation of an intractable headache for 2½ weeks. It demonstrates the inherent difficulty in diagnosing patients not presenting with "textbook" symptoms and highlights the fact that signs and symptoms of eclampsia/preeclampsia, such as elevated blood pressure, may fall below the threshold for hypertensive emergencies and not be considered in the differential. Emergency department providers must possess a strong knowledge base and skill set to recognize subtle presentations and direct care accordingly to ensure positive patient outcomes.

Eclampsia in rural Nigeria: The unmitigating catastrophe

Introduction:

Eclampsia is one of the most dreaded causes of adverse outcomes of pregnancy worldwide. It is one of the greatest causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality world over. We do not know the prevalence, management outcome, and the devastation caused by this dreaded disease in our center hence the need for this work.

Materials and Methods:

This is a 7-year retrospective review of all cases of eclampsia managed in Mater Misericordiae Hospital Afikpo, a rural secondary cum referral Catholic Mission Hospital in Afikpo, Ebonyi State in Southeastern Nigeria.

Results:

The prevalence of eclampsia in our center is 1.12% or one case of eclampsia for every 89 women that delivered in our facility. The majority of the women that had eclampsia in our center 56 (71.8%) were primigravidae. Seventeen women (21.8%) had various antenatal complications with 4 or 23.6% presenting with intrauterine fetal deaths and two (11.8%) each with intrauterine growth restriction, and domestic violence, respectively. Thirty-five or 44.9% of the women were delivered by emergency lower segment cesarean section. Fifteen or 17.9% babies were dead giving a perinatal mortality rate of 174 per 1,000After delivery, and 3 (3.8%) of the women had postpartum hemorrhage. Two women (2.6%) died giving a maternal mortality ratio of 2564 per 100,000 deliveries.

Conclusion:

Eclampsia is a dreaded obstetric disease with adverse fetal and maternal consequences that are not mitigating, and no effort should be spared in managing it effectively including public enlightenment.

Magnesium sulfate attenuates brain edema by lowering AQP4 expression and inhibits glia-mediated neuroinflammation in a rodent model of eclampsia

Eclampsia is characterized by high morbidity and mortality wordwide. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) is used frequently as a prophylaxis for eclamptic seizure in clinical settings. However, the underlying mechanism is less studied, we have previously demonstrated that MgSO₄ pretreatment decreases eclampsia-like seizure threshold. Here, we further evaluated the hypothesis that MgSO₄ exert neuroprotective actions in eclampsia-like rats model by ameliorating neuroinflammation and brain edema. In this study, the eclampsia-like model was established by administering lipopolysaccharide plus pentylenetetrazol in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were given MgSO₄ from gestation day14-19. Then, Iba-1 (a marker for microglia) and S100-B (a marker for astrocytes) expression levels in the hippocampus CA3 region were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured by Luminex assays. Aquaporin-4 (a transmembrane water channel protein) expression levels in cortex were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Astrocyte and microglia expressions were detected by immunofluorescence, neuronal damage were evaluated by Nissl staining, and changes in neuronal number in the hippocampal CA3 region (CA3) among different groups were detected by neuronal nuclei staining. Our results demonstrated that MgSO₄ effectively attenuated astrocyte and microglia activation and promoted the neuronal survival in the CA3. Additionally, MgSO₄ significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines response in the CSF, and decreased the expression of AQP-4 protein in the cortex. Collectively, the findings of this study indicated that MgSO₄ has a neuroprotective role in eclampsia-like seizure rats through its anti-neuroninflammatory and brain edema-attenuating properties.