Question

a 37-year-old woman in her third trimester is brought to the emergency room because of a seizure. she is found to have severe edema and hypertension. what is the most likely diagnosis?

preeclampsia
placental abruption
eclampsia
placenta previa

Explanation:

To determine the most likely diagnosis, we analyze each option:

• Preeclampsia: Characterized by hypertension and edema but no seizures.
• Placental abruption: Involves separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, presenting with vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, etc., not seizures with edema/hypertension.
• Eclampsia: Defined as preeclampsia with seizures (along with edema and hypertension), which matches the patient's symptoms (seizure, severe edema, hypertension in third trimester).
• Placenta previa: Presents with painless vaginal bleeding due to placental position, not seizures or edema/hypertension.

Answer:

C. Eclampsia