• P S Ramsey, J T Van Winter, T A Gaffey, and K D Ramin.
• Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Mayo Medical Center, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
• J Reprod Med. 1998 May 1;43(5):456-8.

BackgroundEclampsia is a rare and serious complication of pregnancy. The occurrence of preeclampsia prior to the 20th week of gestation has been associated with concurrent hydatidiform molar pregnancy. We present a case of eclampsia complicating a partial molar pregnancy associated with a viable fetus.CaseA 22-year-old white woman, gravida 1, para 0, at 14 weeks' gestation, presented with an excruciating headache associated with hypertension, proteinuria and a viable intrauterine fetus with gastroschisis. Subsequently the patient had a generalized tonic-clonic seizure which resolved with magnesium sulfate therapy. Markedly elevated quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin and a moderately thickened placenta were the sole clinical features suggestive of a molar gestation. Dilation and evacuation was performed revealing unremarkable products of conception. Pathologic and cytogenetic analyses revealed a triploid fetus (69,XXX) consistent with partial molar pregnancy.ConclusionDevelopment of preeclampsia/eclampsia prior to 20 weeks of gestation should prompt a clinical evaluation to exclude the possibility of an underlying hydatidiform molar pregnancy.

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