Low Neonatal Birth Weight as a Possible Predictive Factor for the Onset of Postpartum Eclampsia

Abstract

Objective. To report about a case of complicated late postpartum eclampsia where neonatal low birth weight could be considered a predictive factor of placental sufferance. Methods. A 25-year-old woman, without medical or familiar history for hypertension or cerebrovascular diseases, underwent a normal spontaneous delivery with neonatal birth weight of 2340 g (9th percentile). Eight days later the patient presented sudden headache and generalized tonic–clonic seizures. Results. Blood hypertension and alterations in laboratory studies were detected; a diagnosis of late postpartum eclampsia was made. A CT scan showed subarachnoid hemorrhage (Hunt and hess grade I, Fisher grade III). Serial cerebral angiograms did not show any intracranial vascular malformations; epilepsy and hypertension were successfully medically treated; and a repeat CT examination showed the gradual resolution of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Headache progressively disappeared. Conclusions. Low neonatal birth weight could be linked to placental dysfunction and considered as a predictive factor for the onset of postpartum preeclampsia/eclampsia. We recommend a careful clinical and laboratory management of puerperium up to the first month postpartum, in particular in cases of “sine causa” neonatal low birth weight.

Keywords:

• Puerperium
• Preeclampsia
• Eclampsia
• Low birth weight
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage