ABSTRACT
The incidence of eclampsia is approximately 1 in 2000 maternities. Sixty-eight per cent of seizures occur in hospital. The UK Eclampsia Trial definition consisted of: Seizures occurring in pregnancy or within 10 days of delivery and with at least two of the following features documented within 24 hours of the seizure: 1. Hypertension diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of at least 90 mmHg (if DBP less than 90 mmHg on booking visit) or DBP increment of 25 mmHg above booking level. 2. Proteinuria one ‘plus’ or at least 0.3 g/24 hours. 3. Thrombocytopenia less than 100000/µl. 4. Raised aspartate amino transferase (AST) greater than 42 IU/l.
