Because the risk of eclampsia is unpredictable and often not easily related to physical signs such as the degree of high blood pressure, an anticonvulsant (seizure prevention medication) is usually given to women in labor with preeclampsia. Magnesium sulfate is a safe drug for both the mother and the fetus when used to prevent seizures.

The treatment for preeclampsia is bedrest and delivery as soon as it is safe for the fetus. Patients are usually hospitalized, but occasionally may be managed on an outpatient basis with careful monitoring of blood pressure, urine protein, and weight gain.

Medication may be used to lower the elevated blood pressure. The goal is to manage the condition until 36 weeks of the pregnancy have passed. The condition is then relieved with the delivery of the baby.

Delivery may be induced if any of the following occur:

• Diastolic blood pressure of greater than 110 mmHg consistently for a 6-hour period
• Persistent or severe headache
• Epigastric (stomach region) pain
• Abnormal liver function tests
• Rising serum creatinine
• HELLP syndrome
• Pulmonary edema (fluid in lungs)
• Eclampsia
• Thrombocytopenia
• Abnormal fetal heart pattern
• Failure of fetal growth noted by ultrasound

Delivery is the treatment of choice for eclampsia in a pregnancy over 28 weeks. For pregnancies less than 24 weeks, the induction of labor is recommended, although the likelihood of a viable fetus is minimal.

Prolonging such pregnancies results in maternal complications as well as infant death in approximately 87% of the cases. Pregnancies between 24 and 28 weeks gestation present a "gray zone," and conservative management may be attempted, with monitoring for maternal and fetal complications.

Maternal deaths caused by preeclampsia or eclampsia are rare in the U.S. Fetal or perinatal (close to birth) deaths are high and generally decrease as the maturity of the fetus increases. The risk of recurrent preeclampsia in later pregnancies is approximately 33%. Preeclampsia does not appear to lead to chronic high blood pressure in women.

Preeclampsia may develop into eclampsia -- the occurrence of seizures. Eclampsia may lead to complications from trauma or even death. The risk for placenta abruptio is increased with preeclampsia or eclampsia. Fetal complications caused by prematurity at the time of delivery may occur.

Call your health care provider or go to the emergency room if any symptoms of eclampsia or preeclampsia occur during pregnancy. Emergency symptoms include seizures or decreased consciousness.