Eclampsia with Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome at 19 Weeks of Gestation

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a medical condition that presents with headache, seizures, visual disturbances, and altered mental state. It has a distinctive pattern of vasogenic edema in the subcortical white matter of the brain’s posterior parietal-occipital regions on magnetic resonance imaging. PRES may rarely complicate pregnancy, especially in cases of eclampsia. Here, we report the case of a primigravida woman at 19 weeks of gestation, who presented with headache, high blood pressure (BP), altered sensorium, and generalized seizures. The medical intervention involved seizure control and stabilization of her BP, though she had an intrauterine fetal demise. The patient fortunately had a complete recovery. This case highlights the possible neurological consequences of undetected hypertension in pregnancy resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. There is a critical need for early identification, monitoring, and management of hypertensive disease in expectant mothers.