Eclampsia is a rare condition peculiar to pregnant and puerperal women, characterized by clinical pre-eclampsia (hypertension, proteinuria, edema) and generalized seizures. Three cases of eclamptic encephalopathy are reported: CT and MRI demonstrated transient abnormalities in the cortical and subcortical regions of the posterior areas of the brain - namely, parietooccipital lobes -associated with occasional involvement of basal Ganglia and/or brainstem. Pathogenesis is still unclear. Strict similarity with the pathological findings characterizing hypertensive encephalopathy suggests that a focal impairment in cerebral autoregulation may be the cause of vasodilation and fluid extravasation leading to hydrostatic edema; selective involvement of posterior areas could be explained by their lesser degree of adrenergic innervation supporting circulatory autoregulation mechanisms.

Eclamptic encephalopathy: imaging and pathogenetic considerations

Beltramello A.;Bongiovanni L. G.;Rizzuto N.
1997-01-01

Abstract

Eclampsia is a rare condition peculiar to pregnant and puerperal women, characterized by clinical pre-eclampsia (hypertension, proteinuria, edema) and generalized seizures. Three cases of eclamptic encephalopathy are reported: CT and MRI demonstrated transient abnormalities in the cortical and subcortical regions of the posterior areas of the brain - namely, parietooccipital lobes -associated with occasional involvement of basal Ganglia and/or brainstem. Pathogenesis is still unclear. Strict similarity with the pathological findings characterizing hypertensive encephalopathy suggests that a focal impairment in cerebral autoregulation may be the cause of vasodilation and fluid extravasation leading to hydrostatic edema; selective involvement of posterior areas could be explained by their lesser degree of adrenergic innervation supporting circulatory autoregulation mechanisms.
1997
Eclampsia; Electroencephalography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Reversible changes; Seizures;
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/5386
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 9
  • Scopus 71
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 54
social impact