For women with eclampsia, magnesium sulphate is better than phenytoin for preventing further seizures and other health problems for the women and their babies.
Between two and eight in every 100 pregnant women develop pre-eclampsia (toxaemia), which usually means they have high blood pressure and protein in the urine. A few women with pre-eclampsia will also have a seizure (fit), this is called eclampsia. Eclampsia is rare: in high-income countries two to three in every 10,000 pregnant women have eclampsia, and in low- and middle-income countries 16 to 69 in every 10,000 pregnant women. It is an important condition because women who have eclampsia have a high risk of being seriously ill and dying. Worldwide, more than half a million women die each year due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and 99% of these deaths are women in low- and middle-income countries. Overall, 15% of maternal deaths are associated with eclampsia.
The review of seven trials, involving 972 women, found that magnesium sulphate was substantially better than phenytoin in reducing the risk of maternal death and of having further seizures. It also appears safer for the baby. Other drugs (diazepam and lytic cocktail) have also been compared with magnesium sulphate for women with eclampsia in other reviews; magnesium sulphate was substantially better than these too.
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Wprowadzenie
Eclampsia, the occurrence of a seizure in association with pre-eclampsia, remains a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. A number of different anticonvulsants have been used to control eclamptic fits and to prevent further seizures.
Cele
The objective of this review was to assess the effects of magnesium sulphate compared with phenytoin when used for the care of women with eclampsia. Magnesium sulphate is compared with diazepam and with lytic cocktail in other Cochrane reviews.
Metody wyszukiwania badań
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 April 2010).
Kryteria doboru badań
Randomised trials comparing magnesium sulphate (intravenous or intramuscular administration) with phenytoin for women with a clinical diagnosis of eclampsia.
Zbieranie i analiza danych
Two review authors assessed trial quality and extracted data.
Główne wyniki
We have included data from seven trials, involving 972 women. One large trial (775 women) was of good quality. Magnesium sulphate was associated with a substantial reduction in the recurrence of seizures, when compared to phenytoin (six trials, 972 women; risk ratio (RR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.49). The trend in maternal mortality favours magnesium sulphate, but the difference does not reach statistical significance (three trials, 847 women; RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.05). There were reductions in the risk of pneumonia (one trial, RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.79), ventilation (one trial, RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.91) and admission to an intensive care unit (one trial, RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.89) associated with the use of magnesium sulphate rather than phenytoin.
For the baby, magnesium sulphate was associated with fewer admissions to a special care baby unit (SCBU) (one trial, 518 babies; RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.91) and fewer babies who died or were in SCBU for more than seven days (one trial, 643 babies; RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.95) than phenytoin. There was no clear difference in perinatal deaths (two trials, 665 babies; (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.09).
Wnioski autorów
Magnesium sulphate, rather than phenytoin, for women with eclampsia reduces the risk ratio of recurrence of seizures, probably reduces the risk of maternal death, and improves outcome for the baby. Magnesium sulphate is the drug of choice for women with eclampsia. The use of phenytoin should be abandoned.
