Preeclampsia, eclampsia, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy associated with gestational hypertension and end-organ dysfunction. Patients with eclampsia, by definition, have seizures as part of the clinical syndrome. However, patients with preeclampsia can also have other neurologic symptoms and deficits. Both disorders can be associated with radiographic abnormalities similar to that of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, suggesting a common pathophysiology or unified clinical spectrum of disorders. This chapter reviews the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and prognosis of patients with neurologic complications associated with preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Keywords: Eclampsia; Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; Neurology; Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Stroke.