Biomaterial Database

Cortical blindness as a complication of eclampsia. 1984

H A Liebowitz, and P E Hall

Presented is a case of an eclamptic patient whose primary clinical presentation was cortical blindness. The patient was not known to be preeclamptic during her prenatal course, but she was lost to follow up one month prior to her presentation. Computed tomographic scan of the head was consistent with hypertensive encephalopathy. She was treated as an eclamptic patient. Her blood pressure was controlled with hydralazine, and she was given magnesium sulfate intravenously and intramuscularly. Labor was induced with a pitocin infusion. After delivery of a term infant, her vision returned and all other symptoms resolved without sequelae. The etiology and pathophysiology of cortical blindness as a symptom of eclampsia are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006973	Hypertension	Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.	Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D007751	Labor, Induced	Artificially induced UTERINE CONTRACTION.	Induced Labor,Induction of Labor,Labor Induced,Labor Induction,Induced, Labor,Induction, Labor,Inductions, Labor,Labor Inductions
D010121	Oxytocin	A nonapeptide hormone released from the neurohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, POSTERIOR). It differs from VASOPRESSIN by two amino acids at residues 3 and 8. Oxytocin acts on SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS, such as causing UTERINE CONTRACTIONS and MILK EJECTION.	Ocytocin,Pitocin,Syntocinon
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248	Pregnancy Complications	Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases.	Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D001766	Blindness	The inability to see or the loss or absence of perception of visual stimuli. This condition may be the result of EYE DISEASES; OPTIC NERVE DISEASES; OPTIC CHIASM diseases; or BRAIN DISEASES affecting the VISUAL PATHWAYS or OCCIPITAL LOBE.	Amaurosis,Bilateral Blindness,Blindness, Bilateral,Blindness, Legal,Blindness, Monocular,Blindness, Unilateral,Sudden Visual Loss,Unilateral Blindness,Blindness, Acquired,Blindness, Complete,Blindness, Hysterical,Blindness, Transient,Acquired Blindness,Amauroses,Bilateral Blindnesses,Complete Blindness,Hysterical Blindness,Legal Blindness,Monocular Blindness,Sudden Visual Losses,Transient Blindness,Visual Loss, Sudden
D004461	Eclampsia	Onset of HYPERREFLEXIA; SEIZURES; or COMA in a previously diagnosed pre-eclamptic patient (PRE-ECLAMPSIA).	Eclampsias
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006830	Hydralazine	A direct-acting vasodilator that is used as an antihypertensive agent.	Hydrallazin,Apresoline,Apressin,Apressoline,Hydralazine Hydrochloride,Hydralazine mono-Hydrochloride,Hydrazinophthalazine,Nepresol,Hydralazine mono Hydrochloride,Hydrochloride, Hydralazine,mono-Hydrochloride, Hydralazine