Maternal and perinatal outcome of severe pre-eclampsia in Enugu, Nigeria after introduction of Magnesium sulfate.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is the most effective seizure prophylaxis in the management of severe pre-eclampsia, and its use is progressively spreading in our environment. It was introduced at the pioneer teaching hospital of southeastern Nigeria in 2007. A study on the outcome of its use is therefore necessary.

OBJECTIVES:

The objective was to determine the effect of introducing MgSO4 on the maternal and perinatal outcomes of severe pre-eclampsia in Enugu, South eastern Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A retrospective study of all cases of severe pre-eclampsia managed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu (UNTH), Nigeria, from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008 - 2 years before, and 2 years after the introduction of MgSO4 - was performed.

RESULT:

The prevalence of severe preeclampsia within the study period was 3.3%. The mean age of study participants was 24.5 ± 2.9 years. Thirty women received MgSO4 while 47 women received diazepam. Eclampsia occurred only in a member of the diazepam group but there were no maternal deaths. Babies from the diazepam group were more likely to have low 1 minute Apgar scores but the association was not significant [OR = 3.08 (95% CI 0.78, 13.33)]. Longer hospital stay was significantly lower among women who received MgSO4 [OR = 0.32 (95% CI 0.11, 0.93)]. Perinatal mortality did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSION:

MgSO4 is effective in the management of severe pre-eclamptics at the UNTH, Enugu. Therefore, its accessibility and wider use should be promoted.

• Authors: E O V Ugwu, C C Dim, C D Okonkwo, T O Nwankwo
• Journal: Nigerian journal of clinical practice (Niger J Clin Pract) 2011 Oct-Dec Vol. 14 Issue 4 Pg. 418-21 ISSN: 1119-3077 [Print] India
• PMID: 22248941 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Magnesium Sulfate
• Diazepam

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Diazepam (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Hospitals, Teaching
• Humans
• Infant
• Magnesium Sulfate (therapeutic use)
• Maternal Mortality
• Middle Aged
• Nigeria (epidemiology)
• Perinatal Mortality
• Pre-Eclampsia (diagnosis, drug therapy, mortality)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Outcome (epidemiology)
• Prevalence
• Retrospective Studies
• Seizures (epidemiology, etiology, prevention & control)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Stillbirth (epidemiology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult