Epilepsy Linked To Preeclampsia

Prior research has identified eclampsia as a strong risk factor for epilepsy in offspring, but whether the same held true with preeclampsia was unclear.  Eclampsia occurs when pre-eclampsia worsens and is characterized by seizures, agitation and unconsciousness.  Eclampsia is considered a medical emergency and jeopardizes the life of the mother and child.

Preeclampsia exposure was also linked to epilepsy in children born after 37 weeks of gestation. With mild preeclampsia, the epilepsy rate was increased by 16 and 68 percent for full-term and postterm infants, respectively. For severe preeclampsia, the corresponding risks increased by 41 percent and 157 percent.

Consistent with previous reports, eclampsia was associated with a stronger risk of epilepsy.