Clinical and radiological features of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

AIM: To analyse and summarise clinical and radiological features among patients with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), to assess related factors with eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, and to compare the different factors between cytotoxic and vasogenic oedema among PRES patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical and radiological findings of 237 pre-eclamptic or eclamptic patients with neurological symptoms were evaluated retrospectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to compare the differences among these parameters.

RESULTS: Seventy-six patients (32.07%) were diagnosed with PRES. Multiple logistic regression indicated that seizure (odds ratio [OR], 2.760; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.087-7.011; p=0.033), visual disturbances (OR=2.062 95%CI, 1.033-4.115; p=0.004), multiple production history (OR=3.637; 95% CI: 1.068-8.228; p=0.002) were independent risk factors for PRES. PRES+ (OR=3.217; 95%CI, 1.346-7.686; p=0.009), Visual disturbances (OR=4.283; 95% CI: 1.843-9.953; p=0.001) had strong association with eclampsia. Visual disturbances (OR=7.200; 95% CI: 2.116-24.496; p=0.002) had strong correlation with eclampsia among PRES+ patients. Visual disturbances (OR=2.947; 95% CI: 1.135-7.648; p=0.026) were independently related to cytotoxic oedema.

CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-third of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia patients with neurological symptoms have PRES. Visual disturbances, seizure, multiple production history are independent risk factors for PRES. Visual disturbances have a strong association with eclampsia whether patients have PRES or not. Visual disturbances are independently related to cytotoxic oedema among PRES+ patients.