Atypical eclampsia: a case report and review
Graves, J.C.; Vandergriff, J.V.
Tennessee Medicine Journal of the Tennessee Medical Association 94(5): 173-175
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 1088-6222 PMID: 11338615 Document Number: 536459
Up to one-third of cases of eclampsia occur in the postpartum period. Often there is evidence of preeclampsia, which alerts the physician to be prepared for the possibility of seizures. Eclampsia is an obstetrical emergency often requiring intensive care and monitoring. This reports the case of a 33-year-old gravida 5 para 4 abortus 1 who presented ten days postpartum with eclampsia. The patient had no history of hypertension, edema, or proteinuria during her prenatal visits or hospitalization, and has no history of preeclampsia or eclampsia in previous pregnancies. This case illustrates the rare occurrence of eclampsia late in the postpartum period and the equally rare onset of eclampsia without prior evidence of preeclampsia during her pregnancy. It is followed by a brief review of the relevant literature.