Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Next
A full text version of this article is available.
To access article obtain online access here or login
 
Title:
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy with Late Postpartum Eclampsia and Short-Term Memory Loss: A Case Report
Authors:  Martin L. Gimovsky, M.D., Guillermo M. Guzman, M.D., Karen L. Koscica, D.O., Munir A. Nazir, M.D., and Diane E. Ross, M.D.
 
BACKGROUND: Late postpartum eclampsia is more frequently recognized than past reports indicate. This report describes the association of a reversible encephalopathy in a woman with late postpartum eclampsia.
CASE: A woman with lupus nephritis presented 7 days postpartum with eclampsia. Postseizure findings included dramatic short-term memory loss. Although a computed tomography scan was negative, subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated vascular changes associated with a reversible encephalopathy. Conservative treatment with analeptic and antihypertensive therapy allowed a rapid resolution of all symptomatology.
CONCLUSION: In women with eclampsia and unusual neurologic findings, an MRI/MRA may be useful even in the presence of a negative computed tomography scan. (J Reprod Med 2010;55:71–74)
Keywords:  eclampsia, encephalopathy, memory loss, postpartum
   
   
  Acrobat Reader 7.0 is recommended to properly view and print the article.
Reader can be downloaded from