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Comparison of cerebral magnetic resonance and electroencephalogram findings in pre‐eclamptic and eclamptic women
Author(s) -
OSMANAĞAOĞLU Mehmet A.,
DINÇ Gülseren,
OSMANAĞAOĞLU Selen,
DINÇ Hasan,
BOZKAYA Hasan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2005.00453.x
Subject(s) - eclampsia , electroencephalography , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , pregnancy , radiology , psychiatry , genetics , biology
Abstract Objective: To compare the cerebral magnetic resonance (MR) and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings in pre‐eclamptic and eclamptic pregnant women. Methods: A total of 38 pregnant women with mild pre‐eclampsia ( n = 15), severe pre‐eclampsia ( n = 11) and eclampsia ( n = 12) were included in this study. Cranial MR without contrast and EEG were performed in these women on admission or within 3 days of onset. Follow‐up control MR or EEG evaluations were performed 4–6 weeks postpartum in women with MR or EEG abnormalities in the initial examination. To compare differences, X 2 test, Fisher exact or Mann–Whitney U ‐tests were used. Results: Abnormal cranial MR findings were found in one (6%) pre‐eclamptic woman, in four (36%) severe pre‐eclamptic women, and in 11 (92%) eclamptic women. Cranial MR findings were consistent with ischaemia in 15 (39%) patients and haemorrhage in one (3%) case. Two (5%) severe pre‐eclamptic women showed cerebral infarction during the follow‐up period. MR and EEG abnormalities were totally resolved in 88% of cases. The MR findings of 12 (71%) patients were located in the occipital lobes followed by the parietal lobes in six (40%) cases. Three (20%) mild pre‐eclamptic women, four (36%) severe pre‐eclamptic women and 10 (83%) eclamptic women had abnormal EEGs. The EEG changes were totally resolved in 13 of 14 (93%) patients after the first month. In one patient with cerebral haemorrhage, the EEG changes lasted for a duration of 6 months. Conclusions: A correlation between EEG abnormalities and MR findings was found in this study. The combined use of MR and EEG may help to determine the prognosis for these patients, but the interictal EEG findings recorded in eclampsia were non‐specific.