[Differential diagnosis of seizures in the peripartal period].

Seizures remain an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and the puerperium. Encouraged by some cases treated in our clinic (9 cases have been observed between 29. 12. 1989 and 22.5. 1991), the management of differential diagnosis in seizures are discussed in this article. Despite all possibilities of using technical apparatus for investigations, case history and clinical examination remain the basics of diagnosis with regard to paroxysm. EEG is an important, noninvasive method for judgement of cerebral function. It can be carried out continuously as a bedside-test and is extremely helpful in the differential diagnosis of eclampsia versus epilepsia. With a view to substantial defects as a possible convulsant factor, visualised examination procedures, e.g. cranial computed tomography (CCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are available. Especially MRI has advantages in the diagnostic procedure. It could help to find the cause of cerebral structure defects and to clear the question of aetiology. Thus, a specific therapeutic procedure might become possible.