Resolution of hypertension following delivery in Nigerian eclamptics

Abstract

Aim: To assess the general trend which might highlight reasons for poor blood pressure control in post postpartum eclamptics. Method: A retrospective study of 77 eclamptics managed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Blood pressure was measured on admission, immediate pre-delivery, immediate post partum, 1-6 hours, 6-24 hours, daily for 10 days and one reading after ten days. The blood pressure readings were analysed. Results: Postpartum blood pressure trends showed two nadirs and two peaks. The second peak occurred at 6 days postpartum. Corresponding to the two peak periods, approximately 32% of the exlamptics developed blood pressures that were higher than their pressures on admission. The mean time for the blood presure to normalize at 140/90 mmHg was 6 days. In approximately one-third of the study subjects, the blood pressure either rose, or did not fall, between admission and the 8th day postpartum. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the regression coefficients and the blood pressure on admission, blood loss at delivery and a significant positive correlation between the regressions and the total number of fits. Conclusion: The results suggest a possible explanation for late postpartum seizures in hypertensive patients as well as a place for the use of diuretics in the control of resistant postpartum hypertension in eclamptics.

Keywords

• resolution
• hypertension
• eclampsia
• postpartum
• nigeria.