Association of eclampsia and hydatidiform mole: case report and review of the literature.

A patient with a hydatidiform mole complicated by eclampsia is presented. The findings from 57 other cases discovered in a review of the literature since 1866 are summarized to define the clinical characteristics of women experiencing eclampsia as a manifestation of their hydatidiform mole. Eclampsia complicating a molar pregnancy is generally preceded by typical preeclamptic symptomatology and uniformly by severely elevated blood pressure. Neurological or visual symptoms also commonly warn of impending eclampsia. Although the reported cases of eclampsia complicating molar pregnancies are rare, this risk argues for the liberal use of prophylactic antiseizure medication when caring for women with a hydatidiform mole and hypertension, neurological complaints, or other preeclamptic symptoms.