Repeated cranial computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging scans in two cases of eclampsia

K Fredriksson, O Lindvall, I Ingemarsson, B Astedt, S Cronqvist, S Holtås
1989 Stroke  
In two cases of eclampsia with consumptive thrombocytopenia, the maximum increase in blood pressure and the lowest platelet count coincided with the maximum degree of neurologic and neuroradiologic abnormality. Computed tomograms showed decreased attenuation, and T2weighted magnetic resonance images showed increased signal intensity focally in the cerebral cortex and the deep gray and white matter. Blood pressure, platelet count, clinical status, and roentgenograms normalized completely in both
more » ... cases. Severe arterial hypertension and disseminated transitory microvascular occlusions presumably caused multiple small foci of brain edema that resolved without remaining detectable ischemic brain damage. (Stroke 1989;20:547-553) E clampsia is the advanced stage of pregnancyinduced hypertension, resulting in convulsions 1 ; its etiology is unknown. There have been reports of cases of eclampsia investigated with cranial computed tomography (CT) scans. 2 -3 We report the course of arterial hypertension and consumptive thrombocytopenia related to clinical status and findings of repeated CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in two cases of eclampsia. Case Reports Case I A 20-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 0, with signs of preeclampsia in the 28th week of gestation presented with subcutaneous edema, severe proteinuria, a rapid increase in blood pressure to 180/100 mm Hg (Figure 1) , and a weight gain of 22.3 kg during the preceding 14 weeks. She was admitted to a local hospital and was treated with 100 mg/day atenolol, 50 mg/day dihydralazine, and 40 mg/day furosemide. Her platelet count (117X10 9 /!) ( Figure 1 ) and serum albumin concentration (22 g/1) had decreased, and her serum urate concentration (463 /xmol/1) had increased slightly. She had two gener-From the
doi:10.1161/01.str.20.4.547 pmid:2929032 fatcat:wjist5f4e5dhtpezbvn3562acu