Atypical Clinical Presentation of Early Postpartum Eclampsia

Abstract

Eclampsia as a medical emergency during pregnancy and childbirth can first be manifested in the postpartum period, requiring prompt recognition and immediate treatment. It is characterized by convulsive seizures, often accompanied by other neurological symptoms. When it occurs within 48 hours after delivery, it is classified as early postpartum eclampsia. 
This paper presents the case of a 21-year-old patient whose labor was induced at term due to massive proteinuria and gestational hydrops, despite normal blood pressure readings. Shortly after delivery, she developed a severe form of eclampsia, presenting with bilateral tonic-clonic seizures and impaired consciousness. Due to the highly unpredictable nature of eclampsia, particularly in atypical cases involving unrecognized preeclampsia or isolated massive proteinuria, prompt diagnosis based on the clinical presentation, along with an equally swift therapeutic response, is crucial to reducing maternal morbidity.