Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
What causes eclampsia: placenta-related pre-eclampsia, risk factors, and what does not cause it.
The exact cause of eclampsia is not fully known. Doctors understand it as the end of a path that starts with pre-eclampsia, which begins in the placenta.
What seems to happen
Early in pregnancy, the blood vessels that feed the placenta do not develop as well as they should. The placenta then receives less blood, and it releases substances that affect the mother's blood vessels. This leads to high blood pressure, leaky blood vessels and strain on organs such as the kidneys, liver and brain. When the brain is affected, seizures can follow.
Who is at higher risk
What is not the cause
A classical note. Ayurveda describes disorders of pregnancy such as garbhini shotha (swelling) and convulsive conditions, and links them with aggravated Vata. This is an interpretive way of describing signs. It does not explain the placenta-related cause known today and must not replace antenatal checks.
Knowing your risk factors helps your doctor plan closer checks, and in some cases start a protective medicine such as low-dose aspirin.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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