A national registry to record the number of cases of eclampsia in the country has been set up for the first time by the Indian Council of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the city-based Gupte hospital. At least 19 per cent cases of maternal mortality are said to be due to eclampsia-- a condition which leads to seizures during pregnancy.

Says Dr Sanjay Gupte, president elect of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Society of India (FOGSI) and the national coordinator of the registry, "An all India network is being created with the setting up of zonal, state and regional coordinators. This is the first time that we have decided to record and register each case of eclampsia which is so common in both rural and urban areas."

According to Gupte, city based Sassoon General Hospital treats at least 8-10 women every month suffering from the condition. Maternal mortality is 430 deaths per lakh deliveries in the country and is one of the highest in the world. Nearly 19 per cent of these deaths are due to eclampsia and the registry will now aim at identifying and recording the cases in order to evolve standard practice and treatment protocols. Awareness workshops will be held among doctors to recommend the use of magnesium sulphate- a safe, effective and inexpensive drug that can prevent deadly complications arising from pre-eclampsia condition which sees rapid elevation of blood pressure. Pre-eclampsia, when left untreated, can lead to seizures (eclampsia), and liver damage, ultimately leading to death. Based on the latest scientific evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended magnesium sulphate as the most effective, safe, and low-cost medication to treat eclampsia and pre-eclampsia.

The registry will collect data on eclampsia cases with the help of FOGSI's 250 branches and 25,000 gynaecologist members spread all over the country.

“We have co-ordinators working at village, district and state levels. Wherever a case of eclampsia is found, the information case would be immediately sent to the registry by these co-ordinators," Gupte said. While the exact causes of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are not known, some researchers suspect poor nutrition, high body fat or insufficient blood flow to the uterus as possible causes.