Eclampsia is best defined as

Eclampsia is best defined as

• A. Preeclampsia with seizure activity
• B. Severe hypertension with no seizures
• C. Gestational diabetes with ketoacidosis
• D. Preeclampsia without symptoms

Answer: (A)

Eclampsia is defined by the occurrence of seizure activity in a patient with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation accompanied by proteinuria or signs of organ dysfunction. The key feature that makes eclampsia distinct is that seizures (or coma) occur, signaling severe CNS involvement and requiring urgent stabilization and delivery when feasible. So the best definition is preeclampsia with seizure activity. The other options describe conditions that do not include the seizure component: severe hypertension without seizures is still hypertensive disease but not eclampsia; gestational diabetes with ketoacidosis is a metabolic emergency unrelated to preeclampsia; and preeclampsia without symptoms is simply preeclampsia, not the eclamptic state. In practice, seizures call for immediate seizure precautions and magnesium sulfate therapy along with maternal-fetal stabilization and plan for delivery as indicated.

Eclampsia is defined by the occurrence of seizure activity in a patient with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation accompanied by proteinuria or signs of organ dysfunction. The key feature that makes eclampsia distinct is that seizures (or coma) occur, signaling severe CNS involvement and requiring urgent stabilization and delivery when feasible.

So the best definition is preeclampsia with seizure activity. The other options describe conditions that do not include the seizure component: severe hypertension without seizures is still hypertensive disease but not eclampsia; gestational diabetes with ketoacidosis is a metabolic emergency unrelated to preeclampsia; and preeclampsia without symptoms is simply preeclampsia, not the eclamptic state. In practice, seizures call for immediate seizure precautions and magnesium sulfate therapy along with maternal-fetal stabilization and plan for delivery as indicated.