Postpartum Eclampsia Complicated With Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is an uncommon yet devastating neurological maternal complication in pregnancy. Patients typically present with headache, visual disturbances, nausea, or altered mental status, and may develop seizures or loss of consciousness. Imaging usually reveals sub-cortical vasogenic edema at the parietal and occipital lobes. We discuss a case of a 29-year-old patient who developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome secondary to postpartum eclampsia. The diagnosis was made after magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintensities in the bilateral posterior parietal, occipital and frontal lobes. The patient’s symptoms resolved after prompt treatment with levetiracetam and labetalol. Peer-reviewed publications were then sourced from online databases to explore the etiology, clinical presentation, and management of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Our results were compared with the existing data. However, the rarity of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following postpartum eclampsia in the obstetric population meant limited literature existed. Therefore, the case report is novel. Combined with findings from the literature, our results from the case report supported our findings that prompt diagnosis and management are the keys to reverse posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.