Non-eclamptic late toxemias treated by vitamin E

Abstract

The histories of 128 consecutive, unselected women having a late toxemia of pregnancy of the non-convulsive type are analyzed. 1. 2. These women were usually seen for the first time in the first half of their pregnancies. 2. 3. All but one were ambulant throughout, and engaged in their usual tasks. 3. 4. All had “positive” blood estrogen values and were treated with vitamin e only, with or without salt restriction. 4. 5. Seventy-nine per cent never attained a blood pressure above 160 100 . At delivery 43 per cent had lower pressures than the highest attained during pregnancy. 5. 6. Thirty-eight per cent had no edema at delivery and 30 per cent had only slight edema. 6. 7. Eighty-eight per cent had no albuminuria at delivery and only 6 per cent had a “one plus” or more. 7. 8. About 92 per cent of these pregnancies ended at term (this is a corrected figure). Only 4 per cent were induced or sectioned before term. There were 6 per cent stillbirths, excluding only the gross monsters. 8. 9. The birth weight of the living boys was 7 pounds 11 ounces and of the living girls 7 pounds 4 ounces (a corrected figure). 9. 10. This type of toxemia constitutes 85 per cent of the toxemias seen by the writer.