Overview
The goal of this clinical study is to learn whether the way we give magnesium sulphate-into a vein (intravenous, IV) versus into a muscle (intramuscular, IM)-affects how often women with eclampsia have repeat seizures.
The main question it aims to answer is:
- Do women who receive IV magnesium sulphate have fewer recurrent seizures than those who receive IM magnesium sulphate?
Researchers will compare two groups of women with eclampsia: one group will receive a bolus and a continuous IV infusion of magnesium sulphate, and the other will receive a combined IV-plus-IM dosing regimen.
Participants will:
- Be women aged 18-45 years diagnosed with eclampsia in the labour room.
- Have their basic health information (age, gestation, parity, body mass index) recorded
- Be randomly assigned (by sealed envelope) to receive either the IV regimen (4 g loading dose then 1 g/hour infusion) or the IM regimen (10 g loading dose with 4 g IV plus 6 g IM, then 2.5 g IM every 4 hours).
- Continue treatment for 24 hours after their last seizure or delivery, whichever is later.
- Be monitored in hospital for seizure recurrence.
- Have any repeat seizure treated immediately with an extra IV dose of magnesium sulphate.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Admitted in labor room due to eclampsia (new onset of grand mal seizure activity and/or unexplained coma during pregnancy)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with intracranial bleeding (on CT-scan)
- Already received MgSO4, phenytoin and diazepam before attending the hospital