Preeclampsia raises risk of epilepsy in offspring NEW YORK
(Reuters Health) - Among women who develop preeclampsia during
pregnancy, an increased risk of epilepsy is present in their
children who are born after 37 weeks of pregnancy, according to
a report in the current issue of Pediatrics. Preeclampsia, a
condition that develops after the 20th week of pregnancy, is
characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine.
The best treatment is to deliver the infant. If this is not
feasible, bed rest, close monitoring, and delivery as soon
survival outside of the womb is likely is recommended,
preferably after the 37th week of pregnancy. Women are usually
hospitalized and carefully monitored. Prior research has
identified eclampsia as a strong risk factor for epilepsy in
offspring, but whether the same held true with preeclampsia was
unclear, Dr. Chun Sen Wu, with the University of Aarhus,
Denmark, and colleagues explain. Eclampsia occurs when pre-
eclampsia worsens and is characterized by seizures, agita