Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(9):459-468
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000900008
Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy deserve special attention in the setting of global public health. Currently, they represent the third cause of maternal mortality in the world and first in Brazil. From a practical standpoint, pre-eclampsia remains a syndrome that leads to serious repercussions on maternal and fetal mortality and its etiology is not well known. Currently, the best treatment for forms of pre-eclampsia is being discussed at different times in pregnancy and puerperium, with the objective to reduce the high rates of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Considering the pathophysiology of the event, anticipation of delivery is the best treatment for pre-eclampsia. The use of magnesium sulfate is recommended in all cases of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia for prevention and treatment of seizures. Likewise, treatment of hypertensive crises is recommended. Hydralazine, nifedipine and labetalol have been the most commonly used drugs for this purpose, but their use depends on the familiarity of the treating physician. Antenatal corticoid therapy is indicated whenever there is an imminent risk of preterm delivery between 24 and 34 weeks. In contrast, there is insufficient evidence to recommend bed rest and routine plasma volume expansion, and there is an urgent need for randomized clinical trials to determine whether maintenance antihypertensive treatment in pregnant women has benefits or risks for mothers and fetuses in all clinical forms of disease, particularly in cases of pure pre-eclampsia.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(3):159-165
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000300007
Purpose: to determine the frequency of recurrence of seizures after anticonvulsant therapy with magnesium sulfate and to evaluate treatment and maternal prognosis. Patients and Methods: a prospective cohort study was conducted, enrolling all cases of eclampsia managed at IMIP between January/1995 and June/1998. Magnesium sulfate and oxygen therapy were administered routinely and interruption of pregnancy was performed after maternal stabilization. The frequency of recurrence of seizures and its association with maternal complications were determined. chi² test for association was used at a 5% level of significance. Results: twelve cases presented recurrence of convulsions after magnesium sulfate (10%) and all received a repeated dose. In four of them convulsions persisted and they received intravenous diazepam. After diazepam, one patient still had seizures, with unsuccessful administration of phenytoin and therefore barbituric coma was induced (thionembutal). This patient had a CT-scan with evidence of intracerebral hemorrhage. Maternal complications were significantly more frequent in the group with recurrence: coma (16.7% versus 0.95), acidosis (50% versus 2.9%), pulmonary edema (16.7% versus 2.9%), cerebral hemorrhage (16.7% versus 0%) and acute renal failure (16.7% versus 1.9%). Three cases of maternal death occurred in patients with recurrence (25%) versus 2 cases in patients without recurrence (1.9%). Conclusions: rate of recurrence after anticonvulsant therapy with magnesium sulfate is low (10%) but it is associated with increased maternal morbidity and mortality. These cases must be managed in an intensive care unit and submitted to routine CT-scan because cerebral hemorrhage can be the cause of recurrence.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(9):543-549
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000900002
Purpose: to compare the efficiency between magnesium sulfate and phenytoin in the control of convulsions in patients with eclampsia and to evaluate the effects of magnesium sulfate and phenytoin on the maternal and perinatal prognosis in patients with eclampsia. Methods: this is a prospective, randomized and controlled study in which the results obtained with the use of anticonvulsive treatment in 77 women with eclampsia, treated with either magnesium sulfate or phenytoin, were analyzed comparatively. The drugs which were used in both therapeutic schemes were distributed in a one to one ratio, in randomly numbered boxes which presented similar characteristics. When a patient was admitted, a box was opened and its contents were given to the patient. Results: in the group whose patients were treated with magnesium sulfate, 19.5% had recurrent convulsions while in the group whose patients used phenytoin, 36.1% had new crises (p<0,05). The patients who were treated with magnesium sulfate showed a greater prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage (14,7%) than those to whom phenytoin was administered (2.7%) (p<0.05). In relation to the newborns, 17.0% of the group from mothers treated with magnesium sulfate presented respiratory distress as opposed to the group of newborns from mothers treated with phenytoin (11.8%), (p> 0,05). Conclusion: magnesium sulfate is shown to be more efficient than phenytoin in the control and the prevention of convulsions in patients with eclampsia. However, its utilization showed a higher prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage and respiratory distress. Phenytoin should be used in cases where the use of magnesium sulfate is contraindicated.