EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM-SULFATE ON ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN PREECLAMPSIA-ECLAMPSIA

Abstract

EEG were recorded in 36 eclamptic, 14 preeclamptic and 13 normotensive control patients. In the eclamptic group, EEG were recorded while patients were receiving i.v. MgSO4 with serum Mg levels of 4.5-11 mg/dl, and recorded again after MgSO4 was discontinued (serum Mg levels 1.8-2.5 mg/dl). In preeclamptic patients, EEG were recorded before starting MgSO4, during administration of the loading dose (serum Mg levels 6-10 mg/dl), and 8 h through the maintenance dose (serum Mg levels 3.6-6.2 mg/dl). Twenty-seven (75%) eclamptic patients had abnormal EEG, 4 patients showed paroxysmal spike activity, and the others showed focal or diffuse slowing (delta waves). Seven (50%) preeclamptic women had abnormal EEG (all had generalized slowing). In preeclamptic-eclamptic patients who had serial EEG recordings, the gross EEG findigns obtained during MgSO4 infusion and in the absence of MgSO4 were similar. In addition, the abnormal EEG findings were frequent despite the serum Mg levels considered therapeutic in the clinical management of these patients. Two eclamptic patients had seizue activity at serum Mg levels of 9.6 and 1 mg/dl. A normal EEG are frequent in preeclamptic-eclamptic patients. Abnormal EEG findings in such patients are not altered by serum Mg levels achieved in the clinical management of these patients.