The cause of eclampsia is not well understood. Eclampsia may follow preeclampsia, if that condition cannot be brought under control. Preeclampsia is a serious condition which occurs during pregnancy and is marked by high blood pressure, weight gain, and protein in the urine. It is difficult to predict which preeclamptic women may go on to have seizures -- the hallmark of eclampsia. There is poor correlation between the degree of hypertension present in preeclampsia and the ultimate occurrence of seizures.
The exact cause of preeclampsia has not been identified. Numerous theories of potential causes range from genetic, dietary, vascular (blood vessel), and neurological factors. None of the theories has yet been proven.
Preeclampsia occurs in approximately 5% of all pregnancies. The incidence of eclampsia is approximately 1 out of 2000 to 3000 pregnancies. An increased risk for preeclampsia is associated with first time pregnancies, teenage pregnancies, mothers over the age of 40, African-American women, multiple pregnancies, and women with a history of diabetes, hypertension, or renal (kidney) disease.
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