Paraparesis with complete recovery in antepartum eclampsia

Abstract

Reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLES) is a well-known clinical entity that may be associated with an abrupt rise in blood pressure as in hypertensive encephalopathy and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. The diagnosis of RPLES is suggested in retrospect by the reversal of neuroradiologic abnormalities and complete clinical recovery after treatment of the underlying cause. Studies have reported that RPLES invariably involves the posterior regions of the cerebral hemispheres especially the parieto-occipital lobes but that other areas may be involved as well. However a case of antepartum eclampsia with paraparesis attributed to leucoencephalopathy involving the frontoparietal regions of the cerebral hemispheres alone is being reported herein. (excerpt)