Clinical and perinatal outcomes in eclamptic women with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

Fetomaternal outcome in preeclampsia and eclampsia with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

Introduction

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are hypertensive disorders of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurological complication observed in these conditions, yet its impact on fetomaternal outcomes remains underexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between PRES and fetomaternal outcomes in women with preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled 64 singleton pregnant women beyond 20 weeks of gestation with preeclampsia and eclampsia having neurological symptoms. Participants underwent clinical evaluation and radiological assessment, including non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Maternal outcomes, including high dependency unit (HDU)/intensive care unit (ICU) stay, intubation, mode of delivery and maternal mortality. Fetal outcomes, i.e., stillbirth, prematurity, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to compare outcomes between PRES and non-PRES groups.

Results

The majority (92.18%) of participants were unscheduled and (56.2%) were primigravida. PRES was diagnosed in 62.5% of cases, predominantly associated with antepartum eclampsia (47.5%). Neurological symptoms such as headache (85.9%) and blurring of vision (68.8%) were common in PRES cases. Cesarean section rate was significantly higher in PRES group (75%), along with adverse outcomes including increased HDU/ICU stay, intubation, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), abruption, maternal mortality, stillbirth, prematurity, fetal growth restriction (FGR), meconium-stained liquor (MSL), and NICU stay, which were observed significantly higher in women with PRES (p < 0.001) and low Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration (APGAR) scores (p < 0.05). However, no significant association was observed between PRES and early neonatal death (ENND).

Conclusion

PRES is associated with adverse fetomaternal outcomes in women with preeclampsia/eclampsia, including higher cesarean section rate and increased maternal and neonatal morbidity. Early recognition and management of PRES are crucial for improving outcomes in these high-risk pregnancies. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to validate these findings and explore potential interventions.

A systematic review of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia and eclampsia

Background

The association of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and severe preeclampsia/eclampsia has been established but the frequency is uncertain.

Objectives

To determine the frequency of PRES in severe preeclampsia or eclampsia.

Methods

We searched published articles in PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, and CINAHL from 1990 to 2020. We included articles that reported on six or more cases of PRES with eclampsia or severe preeclampsia who underwent neuroimaging during pregnancy or up to 6 weeks postpartum.

Results

We identified 29 studies presenting data on 1519 women with eclampsia or severe preeclampsia. Among 342 women with eclampsia who had neuroimaging, 176 (51.4%) were diagnosed with PRES. Of 121 women with severe preeclampsia, 24 (19.8%) had PRES. The pooled maternal death rate was 5.3% (21/395).

Conclusion

PRES is commonly reported on neuroimaging of women with eclampsia/ severe preeclampsia. The role of neuroimaging in eclampsia and especially in women with severe preeclampsia requires re-evaluation as further management is often dictated by this finding.

Clinical and Imaging Data-Based Model for Predicting Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS) in Pregnant Women With Severe Preeclampsia or Eclampsia and Analysis of Perinatal Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia (SPE/E) based on a predicting model and to analyze the perinatal outcomes.

METHODS

From January 2015 to March 2020, 78 pregnant women data diagnosed with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia with cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) screening in Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital and Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into the RPLS group (n = 33) and non-RPLS group (n = 45) based on the MRI results. The general clinical data (blood pressure, BMI, symptoms, and so forth), laboratory examination, TCD results, and perinatal outcomes in the two groups were compared. The risk factors of severe preeclampsia or eclampsia complicated with RPLS were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. The prediction model and decision curve (DCA) were established according to the clinical-imaging data.

RESULTS

The univariate analysis showed that poor placental perfusion, hypertension emergency, use of two or more oral antihypertensive drugs, headache, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid (UA), serum albumin (ALB), average flow velocity, and resistance index of the posterior cerebral and basilar arteries were significantly different in the RPLS group compared with the non-RPLS group (all P < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertensive emergency, headache, WBC, PLT, ALT, and average flow velocity of the basilar artery (BAAFV) were the risk factors in the RPLS group. The aforementioned clinical-imaging data modeling (general data model, laboratory examination model, TCD model, and combined model) showed that the combined model predicted RPLS better. DCA also confirmed that the net benefit of the combined model was higher. In addition, the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, stillbirth, and preterm infants was higher in the RPLS group than in the non-RPLS group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

More postpartum complications were detected in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia or eclampsia complicated with RPLS. Hypertensive emergency, headache, WBC, PLT, ALT, and BAAFV were the important risk factors for RPLS. The combined model had a better effect in predicting RPLS.

Expression Level of IL-17 in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Late Pregnancy and Diagnosis of Maternal-Fetal Tolerance Based on Brain MRI Image Segmentation Algorithm

Objectives:

To study the expression of IL-17 in peripheral blood and its effect on maternal-fetal tolerance in patients with eclampsia in late pregnancy using MRI image segmentation algorithm.

Methods:

Thirty-nine patients with severe preeclampsia and eclampsia with brain symptoms were examined by cranial MRI. Pregnant women with 32 weeks of pregnancy were selected to detect the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells in CD4 + T lymphocytes and the expression of cytokines IL-17 and IL-10 in peripheral blood.

Results:

MRI examination was normal in 26 cases, 9 cases showed reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome, three cases were cerebral hemorrhage, and one case was intracranial cavernous sinus thrombosis. two. Compared with the mild preeclampsia group, the relative number of Thl7 cells increased and that of Treg cells decreased in the severe preeclampsia group (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

The major types of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in severe preeclampsia and eclampsia were reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome and cerebral hemorrhage. It was speculated that the damage to the blood-brain barrier may play an important role in the pathogenesis. The balance of the number of Th17 cells/the number of Treg cells was more inclined to the Th17 cell-mediated pro-inflammatory state, Treg cell-mediated immune tolerance decreases, and it becomes more obvious with the worsening of the disease.

Predictors of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in women with hypertension in pregnancy: A prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical neuro-radiologic abnormality associated with eclampsia and is diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, MRI scans to detect PRES may be difficult to obtain routinely. Thus, it would be useful to see whether standard demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters are predictive of PRES.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Prediction of PRES with standard parameters.

RESULTS

30 hypertensive pregnant women were enrolled. Brain MRI scans were performed after delivery till 7 days post-partum. Area under curves (AUC)s for clinical and laboratory parameters were generated for PRES prediction. A total of 8 women (5 with eclampsia and 3 with preeclampsia with features of severity) had PRES features in MRI. The most specific parameters for predicting PRES were age (<24 years), platelet count (<0.69 lacs/mm³), serum ALT (>129 IU/L) and AST (>55 IU/L), total bilirubin (>1.3 mg/dl), low hemoglobin (<8.7 g/dl) and presence of seizures. The most sensitive predicting parameters were serum uric acid > 5.2 mg/dl, systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 164 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg and serum creatinine > 0.8 mg/dl. The best AUCs > 70% and good Youden indices were obtained for age < 24 years, SBP > 164 mm Hg, total bilirubin > 1.3 mg/dl, AST > 55 IU/L, hemoglobin < 8.7 mg/dl and uric acid > 5.2 mg/dl.

CONCLUSION

In women with preeclampsia, younger age, raised SBP, elevated serum total bilirubin, uric acid and AST and low hemoglobin best predict PRES.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a newly defined syndrome; therefore, this transient clinical condition is not well known and probably underdiagnosed. It develops quickly with symptoms that are usually indistinguishable from eclampsia. Nurses need to be knowledgeable and aware of identifying symptoms and appropriate treatment. The condition is thought to share pathophysiology with eclampsia, and it is suggested that endothelial dysfunction combined with hypertension causes disruption in the blood brain barrier resulting in cerebral edema. Seizures develop secondary to cerebral edema, and mark later stages of the disease. Treatment is aimed at reducing blood pressure (BP) with antihypertensive therapy and seizure control with magnesium sulfate. When PRES is treated early, symptoms typically disappear within a few days and imaging studies normalize in several weeks. Permanent brain damage can occur if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. If PRES is suspected, thorough focused assessments and increased communication among the healthcare team are essential for patient care. When pregnant or postpartum women present with elevated BP accompanied with neurologic symptoms, imaging studies should be considered. An exemplar case is presented of a woman with normal prenatal course that is complicated by rapidly developing preeclampsia, eclampsia, and PRES.

Predictors of oedema type in reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome with preeclampsia or eclampsia

OBJECTIVE

To explore the predictive factors of oedema types in reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) with preeclampsia (PE) and eclampsia, which is closely related to reversible lesions and clinical recovery.

METHOD

We collected data from 44 consecutive patients diagnosed with RPLS in PE or eclampsia between 2013 and 2017. All patients were classified into vasogenic oedema (n = 31) or cytotoxic oedema (n = 13) groups according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results. General information, clinical data, biochemical indicators and imaging features were collected retrospectively to explore the differences between the groups. Furthermore, we analysed potential predictive factors by logistic regression.

RESULTS

The occurrence rates of immune disease and stillbirth, hospitalization time and the levels of serum albumin (ALB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were higher, while the values of systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and 24-h urine protein were lower in the cytotoxic oedema patients than those in the vasogenic oedema patients (p < .05). The ALB concentration was closely correlated with vasogenic oedema, while AST and ALT were closely correlated with cytotoxic oedema by logistic regression (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

The levels of ALB, AST and ALT are potential predictors for the development of oedema in RPLS. ALB is related to vasogenic oedema by a possible mechanism of decreased colloid osmotic pressure, while AST and ALT are related to cytotoxic oedema by a possible mechanism of endothelial dysfunction.

Acute onset of blindness associated with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a HELLP syndrome case report

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is an uncommon disorder. PRES presents with clinical findings such as headache, seizures, visual disturbances, and altered consciousness. Here, we present a PRES case in the second trimester of pregnancy with intrauterine fetal demise. A 40-year-old woman, gravida 4 para 3, was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome based on the clinical and laboratorial findings. An emergent caesarean section was performed under magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) treatment. She had suffered vision loss with normal fundoscopic findings at postpartum period. All the clinical, laboratory and imaging findings (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis of PRES. Careful observation of the clinical findings and prompt treatment is necessary for pregnancies complicated by PRES to prevent undesirable outcomes.