Eclampsia in Finland in 1990-1994

Background. Eclampsia is a serious threat to both maternal and fetal well-b eing. We started the present study because no recent data are available on the incidence of eclampsia and the outcome of patients with this serious di sorder in Finland. Methods. The incidence of eclampsia in Finland in 1990-1994 was studied ret rospectively. The data were retrieved from the National Birth Register and the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. Patient records were reviewed. Results. Seventy-seven cases of eclampsia were found in the hospital record s, which gave an eclampsia incidence of 2.4 per 10,000 deliveries (95% conf idence intervals 1.9 to 2.9). Eclampsia was preceded by severe pre-eclampsi a in 84% and by mild pre-eclampsia in 8% of the patients. Ten mothers suffe red from severe eclampsia-related complications but, fortunately, none of t he mothers died. Perinatal mortality was 5%, and 33% of the newborns were s mall for gestational age. Conclusions. Eclampsia is rare in Finland. Its low incidence is probably du e to improved neonatal care that allows earlier deliveries before the progr ess of preeclampsia to eclampsia.