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Diseases and Conditions of Cation Regulation

Eclampsia / Pre-eclampsia

Preeclampsia-eclampsia is a disease that is unique to pregnancy, and may occur anytime after 20 weeks of pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth. Approximately 7% of pregnant women in the U.S. develop preeclampsia-eclampsia. Preeclampsia is defined as the presence of elevated blood pressure, protein in the urine, and severe swelling (edema) during pregnancy. Eclampsia occurs with the addition of seizures to the above triad of symptoms. Approximately 5% of women with preeclampsia go on to develop eclampsia, which is a significant cause of maternal death (13). For many years, high dose intravenous magnesium sulfate has been the treatment of choice for preventing eclamptic seizures that may occur in association with preeclampsia-eclampsia late in pregnancy or during labor. Magnesium is believed to relieve cerebral blood vessel spasm, increasing blood flow to the brain (2).

From the Micronutrient Information Center,  Jane Higdon, Ph.D. at jane.higdon@oregonstate.edu.

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