Abstract
Eclampsia is a common complication of pregnancy in Ibadan, although its long term effects on subsequent pregnancies is unknown. In a prospective study of 64 women who had eclampsia in their previous pregnancies and were followed up in their current pregnancies, 15.6% of them had recurrent eclampsia, in spite of optimal antenatal care. Of the 18 patients with diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg 22.2% or over at booking had antepartum or intrapartum eclampsia as compared with only 2.2% of 46 patients with diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 mmHg at booking. This finding was statistically significant (P < 0.01), showing that the diastolic blood pressure at booking can be a measure of the potential for developing eclampsia because of the possibility of residual hypertension on which pre-eclampsia may be superimposed. Similarly, there was a significant association (P < 0.05) between the birthweight of the babies and the diastolic blood pressure at booking, and may be a measure of the effect of vascular effect of pre-eclampsia on the placenta. However, there was no difference in the perinatal mortality rate in this study and the overall hospital figures in spite of the high risk pregnancies being managed. It was concluded, therefore, that the outcome of these pregnancies would depend much on the standard of antenatal care provided for the patients.