The aim of our study is to assess the comparative effects of three regimens for the administration of magnesium sulfate when used for the care of women with severe pre-eclampsia.
The study will include 240 pregnant women presenting to the casualty unit with criteria of severe preeclampsia in the form of one of the criteria:-
- Systolic blood pressure ≥ 160.
- Diastolic blood pressure ≥ 110.
- Proteinuria > +2 by dip stick.
- Presence of alarming symptoms (headache, visual disturbance, epigastric pain, vaginal bleeding).
- Fetal growth restriction (IUGR).
After obtaining an informed consent the patients will be subjected to the following:
- Careful history taking including age, parity, gestational age.
- Complete physical examination and assessment of the blood pressure.
- Urine analysis by dipstick.
- All women will take initial MgSO4 (6 grams of MgSO4 on 250 ml ringer solutions over 20 minutes by IV drip) .
Using Random Number Table, the sample size will be divided into three categories:-
- Category A : 80 patients given full dose of maintenance MgSO4 (4 grams of MgSO4 on 250 ml ringer solution over 4 hours every 4 hours by IV drip for 24 hours) in the postpartum period.
- Category B : 80 patients given abbreviated doses of MgSO4 (4 grams of MgSO4 on 250 ml ringer solution over 4 hours every 4 hours by IV drip only for 12 hours) in the postpartum period.
- Category C : 80 patients who will take only loading dose of MgSO4 (6 grams of MgSO4 on 250 ml ringer solutions over 20 minutes) with no postpartum maintenance sulfate.
Inclusion criteria:
- Pregnant females ≥20 weeks of gestation.
- Pregnant females with criteria of severe pre-eclampsia.
- Single or multi-fetal pregnancy.
- Primigravida or Multigravida.
Exclusion criteria:
- Pregnant females < 20 weeks gestation.
- Pregnant females with history of epilepsy.
- Pregnant females with diabetes.
- Pregnant females with chronic hypertension.
- Pregnant females with renal disease.