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What Is The Treatment For Eclampsia?
A patient had been diagnosed as asymptomatic of impending eclampsia. After labouring, her BP is 134/100. She discharged with medication of labetalol 100mg TDS. Why give Labetalol instead of other drug? is there any study done that related to usage of labetalol in this kind of patient?
Mon, 21 Sep 2015
Hi & Welcome.
Incomplete data like age, duration of pregnancy, etc.
Convulsion occurring in a pregnant woman is referred to as Eclampsia which usually follows a condition called preeclampsia. This is a serious complication of pregnancy that is associated with high BP and excess & rapid weight gain.
Once Eclampsia develops, the only treatment is delivery of the baby (if eclampsia occurs prior to delivery). Eclampsia can also occur after delivery (up to 24 hours postpartum, typically)
Magnesium sulfate given intravenously is the treatment of choice once eclampsia develops. This treatment decreases the chances of having recurrent seizures. Magnesium treatment is continued for a total of 24 to 48 hours after the last seizure.
Once the mother's condition is stabilized following a seizure, the doctor will prepare to deliver the baby. This can occur either by cesarean delivery or induction of labor and vaginal delivery.
Although there are many different types of BP lowering medications but most of them are not safe to to use during pregnancy. Medicines like Labetalol, Methyldopa or Hydralazine are found to be effective and safe to treat high BP during pregnancy.
Labetalol has certain merits like
1. It is free of the side effects of drugs like methyldopa, hydralazine, etc.
2. It results in good and sustained control of BP.
3. It does not cause increased heart beat and BP is stabilized.
4. It has no effect on uteroplacental blood flow.
Hope to have answered your query.
A feed back is appreciated.
Incomplete data like age, duration of pregnancy, etc.
Convulsion occurring in a pregnant woman is referred to as Eclampsia which usually follows a condition called preeclampsia. This is a serious complication of pregnancy that is associated with high BP and excess & rapid weight gain.
Once Eclampsia develops, the only treatment is delivery of the baby (if eclampsia occurs prior to delivery). Eclampsia can also occur after delivery (up to 24 hours postpartum, typically)
Magnesium sulfate given intravenously is the treatment of choice once eclampsia develops. This treatment decreases the chances of having recurrent seizures. Magnesium treatment is continued for a total of 24 to 48 hours after the last seizure.
Once the mother's condition is stabilized following a seizure, the doctor will prepare to deliver the baby. This can occur either by cesarean delivery or induction of labor and vaginal delivery.
Although there are many different types of BP lowering medications but most of them are not safe to to use during pregnancy. Medicines like Labetalol, Methyldopa or Hydralazine are found to be effective and safe to treat high BP during pregnancy.
Labetalol has certain merits like
1. It is free of the side effects of drugs like methyldopa, hydralazine, etc.
2. It results in good and sustained control of BP.
3. It does not cause increased heart beat and BP is stabilized.
4. It has no effect on uteroplacental blood flow.
Hope to have answered your query.
A feed back is appreciated.
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