Abstract
Objective: This study was undertaken to characterize the neuroimaging findings of cerebral edema associated with eclamptic seizures by use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Study design: During the 3-year period ending March 2002, 27 nulliparous women with eclampsia were evaluated with diffusion-weighted MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping. Those with findings of restricted diffusion suggestive of cytotoxic edema underwent neuroimaging again 6 weeks post partum. Results: All but 2 of these 27 women (93%) had reversible vasogenic edema. Six were also found to have areas of cytotoxic edema consistent with cerebral infarction. Five of these 6 women had persistent imaging findings of infarction when studied post partum, however, without clinical neurologic deficits. Conclusion: The spectrum of cerebral lesions in eclampsia as seen with MRI varies from initially reversible areas of vasogenic edema that may progress to cytotoxic edema and infarction in up to a fourth of women.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 714-720 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American journal of obstetrics and gynecology |
Volume | 190 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2004 |
Keywords
- Cerebral infarction
- Diffusion-weighted imaging
- Eclampsia
- Hypertensive encephalopathy
- Magnetic resonance imaging
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology