Electroencephalography in normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies and subsequent quality of life

Objectives: To compare electroencephalography (EEG) findings during pregnancy and postpartum in women with normotensive pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders. Also the health related quality of life postpartum was related to these EEG findings. Materials and Methods: An observational case-control study in a university hospital in the Netherlands. Twenty-nine normotensive and 58 hypertensive pregnant women were included. EEG's were recorded on several occasions during pregnancy and 6-8 weeks postpartum. Postpartum, the women filled out health related quality of life questionnaires. Main outcome measures were qualitative and quantitative assessments on EEG, multidimensional fatigue inventory, Short Form (36) Health Survey and EuroQol visual analogue scale. Results: In women with severe preeclampsia significantly lower alpha peak frequency, more delta and theta activity bilaterally and a higher EEG Sum Score were seen. Postpartum, these women showed impaired mental health, mental fatigue and social functioning, which could not be related to the EEG findings. Conclusions: Severe preeclamptic patients show more EEG abnormalities and have impaired mental wellbeing postpartum, but these findings are not correlated

Electroencephalography in Normotensive and Hypertensive Pregnancies and Subsequent Quality of Life

Objectives To compare electroencephalography (EEG) findings during pregnancy and postpartum in women with normotensive pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders. Also the health related quality of life postpartum was related to these EEG findings. Materials and Methods An observational case-control study in a university hospital in the Netherlands. Twenty-nine normotensive and 58 hypertensive pregnant women were included. EEG's were recorded on several occasions during pregnancy and 6-8 weeks postpartum. Postpartum, the women filled out health related quality of life questionnaires. Main outcome measures were qualitative and quantitative assessments on EEG, multidimensional fatigue inventory, Short Form (36) Health Survey and EuroQoL visual analogue scale. Results In women with severe preeclampsia significantly lower alpha peak frequency, more delta and theta activity bilaterally and a higher EEG Sum Score were seen. Postpartum, these women showed impaired mental health, mental fatigue and social functioning, which could not be related to the EEG findings. Conclusions Severe preeclamptic patients show more EEG abnormalities and have impaired mental wellbeing postpartum, but these findings are not correlated

Results of EQ-VAS. MFI and SF-36.

<p>Results of EQ-VAS. MFI and SF-36.</p

Alpha Peak Frequency during pregnancy and post partum ^a.

<p>^a The repeated measures analysis has been performed using linear mixed effects models. Data are presented in mean and 95% Confidence Interval. Abbreviations: Hz, Hertz; pp, post partum, HELLP, Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes Low Platelets.</p

Course of Alpha Peak Frequency in a patient who developed Severe Preeclampsia ^a,b,c.

<p>^a Data of patient is presented in red dots. ^b Black line and dotted lines are data of Severe Preeclampsia + HELLP, as presented in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155299#pone.0155299.g002" target="_blank">Fig 2</a>. ^c Blue line and dotted lines are data of Normotensive women, as presented in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155299#pone.0155299.g002" target="_blank">Fig 2</a>. ^d Red line: patient developed Severe Preeclampsia. Abbreviations: Hz, Hertz; pp, post partum; HELLP, Hemolysis Elevated Liver Enzymes Low Platelets.</p

Visually assessed EEG.

<p>Visually assessed EEG.</p

Sum Score during pregnancy and post partum ^a.

<p>^a The repeated measures analysis has been performed using linear mixed effects models. Data are presented in mean and 95% Confidence Interval. Abbreviations: pp, post partum, HELLP, Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes Low Platelets.</p

EEG Sum Score ^a.

<p>^a EEG Sum Score is the sum of items 1 to 6, ranging 0–17 points.</p