PREGNANCY OUTCOME IN ECLAMPTICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OFABUJA TEACHING HOSPITAL, GWAGWALADA, ABUJA: A 3 YEAR REVIEW

Eclampsia remains one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality especially in the developing countries. In Nigeria, it is the 3 commonest cause of maternal mortality. The high maternal morbidity and mortality due to eclampsia in the developing countries has been ascribed to late referral, delay in hospitalization, lack of transport, unbooked status of patients and multiple seizures prior to admission.

To review the presentation and management of eclampsia at the university of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), the factors associated with it, the maternal and perinatal outcome and make recommendations on how to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality from eclampsia.

The case notes of all the patients that had eclampsia between 1 May 2005 and 30 April 2008 were retrieved and analyzed. The information sought for include age of the patients, parity, booking status, type of eclampsia and blood pressure at presentation. Other information include level of proteinuria, anticonvulsants used, mode of delivery, maternal complications and perinatal outcome.

There were 4471 total deliveries within the period, out of which 59 had eclampsia, giving an incidence of 13 per 1000 deliveries. There were 5 maternal deaths, giving a case fatality rate of 8.5%. Eclampsia was commonest amongst the age group of 20-24 years (34.8%). Primigravidae constituted 60.9% of the cases. Majority of the patients (89.1%) were unbooked. Antepartum eclampsia (73.9%) was more than intra-partum (19.6%) and postpartum (2.2%) combined. Thirty two patients had severe hypertension on admission (diastolicBP= 110mmHg)while 11 (23.9%) had mild hypertension (diastolicBP90-