A pregnant woman presents at 22 weeks gestation for a routine prenatal visit. Physical examination demonstrates ankle edema and new onset hypeension. Urinalysis reveals marked proteinuria. Development of which of the following would justify a diagnosis of eclampsia?
Correct Answer: Seizures
Description: A pregnant patient is considered to be in preeclampsia if she develops hypeension, proteinuria, and edema. Eclampsia includes the addition of seizures to the triad. Approximately 7 percent of pregnant women develop preeclampsia, typically between 20 weeks gestation to 6 weeks postpaum. Predisposing conditions include pre-existing hypeension, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Laboratory features can include hyperuricemia and thrombocytopenia, but these are not used to define the presence of eclampsia. Ref: Cunningham F.G., Leveno K.J., Bloom S.L., Hauth J.C., Rouse D.J., Spong C.Y. (2010). Chapter 34. Pregnancy Hypeension. In F.G. Cunningham, K.J. Leveno, S.L. Bloom, J.C. Hauth, D.J. Rouse, C.Y. Spong (Eds), Williams Obstetrics, 23e.
Category:
Gynaecology & Obstetrics
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now