Pregnancy following eclampsia: a longitudinal study at korle- bu teaching hospital

Abstract

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To find out the reproductive performance of patients in the immediate pregnancy following an eclampsia. DESIGN Longitudinal survey. SETTING Obstetrics Unit of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a teaching hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Three hundred and ninety seven women whose previous pregnancies were complicated by eclampsia were followed up based on a schedule of antenatal care from 14-16 weeks gestation till delivery. The occurrence of hypertensive complications, timing of delivery, fetal outcome and birth weight were noted. RESULTS There were no cases of recurrent eclampsia and no maternal death. Pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampia recurred in 15.8% of the women. These recurrencies were more significant among those who had changed their male partners (p = 0.0005). The caesarean section rate was 65.9%. The mean ponderal indices in those who developed hypertensive complications were significantly lower than the normotensives (P<0.03 However, the overall perinatal mortality rate of 23.3 per 1000 deliveries was lower than the 62.8 per 1000 in the general obstetric population. CONCLUSION Previous episode of eclampsia does not necessarily affect perinatal and maternal outcome adversely in subsequent pregnancy, provided adequate antenatal surveillance and timely delivery are offered to the patients.