Preeclampsia increases the risk of epilepsy in children

As we know, preeclampsia is a surge in tension caused by pregnancy and can have serious consequences, both for the mother and the baby, if it is not controlled.

Well, according to a study published in the journal "Pediatrics", Women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancy are at high risk that their babies suffer from epilepsy if they are born from the 37th week of gestation.

Previously it was known that eclampsia (when preeclampsia is aggravated and the mother suffers seizures, agitation and loss of consciousness) did favor epilepsy in babies. Now, researchers from the University of Aarhus, in Denmark, point out that preeclampsia would also increase this risk.

The team reviewed data from the Danish National Hospital Registry, which includes information on 1.5 million babies born between 1978 and 2003. The team identified 45,288 children (2.9%) who had been exposed to preeclampsia during pregnancy and 654 (0.04%) who had been exposed to eclampsia.

The researchers found that 20,620 subjects developed epilepsy during follow-up, up to 27 years. The data indicate that in cases of preeclampsia, both mild and severe, the number of children suffering from epilepsy rises considerably.

In the case of mild preeclampsia, the epilepsy rate increases up to 68% in the case of babies born to the post-term (16% in those born at term). In the cases of severe preeclampsia, the associated risks increased 157% and 41% in each case.

Instead, and this is good news for premature babies, who face so many complications, the study reports that preeclampsia was not related to epilepsy in premature babies.

In short, the team's conclusions indicate

"Preeclampsia or associated pathologies would raise vulnerability to epilepsy later, or else, preeclampsia and epilepsy would share common causes"

All of which is one more reason why future moms do not let the symptoms of preeclampsia pass from the first moment.

Video: Epilepsy and pregnancy - Top expert on risks of seizures and medications 9 (March 2024).