- An autopsy report shows that track and field star Tori Bowie died during childbirth, listing eclampsia and respiratory distress as possible causes.
- Eclampsia is a deadly pregnancy complication and is rare in the United States and other developed countries.
- But preeclampsia, which precedes eclampsia, is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S.
- Preeclampsia could happen to anyone, but Black women face a higher risk.
- To reduce your risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia, knowing how to spot the warning signs could be life-saving.
Eclampsia, a severe form of preeclampsia, is a life threatening complication during pregnancy and childbirth.
This week, an autopsy report shared with The New York Times revealed that track star and Olympian Tori Bowie died at 32 from pregnancy complications. The autopsy cited eclampsia and respiratory distress as possible causes that led to her death earlier this spring.
On May 3, U.S.A. Track & Field confirmed that Bowie had died during childbirth at her home in Orlando, FL, but no cause of death had been reported. No one had seen or heard from her for several days.
Frentorish (Tori) Bowie was a sprinter who competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She won a gold medal in the 4×100 meter relay and took silver in the 100 meters and bronze in the 200 meters.
Bowie’s former teammate and decorated Olympian, Allyson Felix, experienced preeclampsia in 2018 and delivered her daughter by emergency C-section, which may have saved her life.
For professional athletes, presumably in good physical health, how is it possible that pregnancy complications could be so deadly?
Dr. Sarah W. Prager, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, told Healthline that eclampsia, which follows severe preeclampsia, could happen to anyone — but Black women are more at risk.
What is eclampsia and how rare is it?
Eclampsia is a rare but serious condition where high blood pressure results in seizures during pregnancy. There are generally only a handful of cases in the United States and other high-income countries.
In fact, a large population-based study published in 2022 reports that only 0.3% of live births in the U.S. from 2009–2017 were associated with eclampsia.
Yet preeclampsia, which precedes eclampsia, is more common, affecting 5% to 7% of all pregnancies worldwide and responsible for more than 70,000 maternal mortalities and 500,000 fetal deaths, according to research from 2019.
Preeclampsia is also the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., admissions to maternal intensive care units, cesarean section, and premature births.
“If preeclampsia goes unrecognized (or) untreated, it can result in eclampsia, which means hypertensive seizure,” Prager said.
Who is at risk for eclampsia?
Anyone who experiences preeclampsia is at risk for eclampsia if the condition is not treated.
But the differences in a pregnant person’s health at baseline may increase their risk of developing preeclampsia and eclampsia, Prager explained.
“Some of the risk factors include first pregnancy or first pregnancy with a new partner,” she said.
Still, preeclampsia disproportionately affects Black women, as research has shown.
Underlying risk factors, such as systemic racism, are possible causes.
“Black pregnant people have higher rates of most pregnancy complications, most if not all of which can be ascribed to racism baked into our medical system,” Prager said.
“As far as I’m aware, this is the primary reason for increased rates of preeclampsia [or] eclampsia in the Black population in the U.S. — I’m not aware of other differences that lead to this.”
Warning signs of eclampsia
Preeclampsia may strike without warning. If the condition occurs before a healthcare professional is able to identify it, it could lead to eclampsia and become fatal.
Warning signs of preeclampsia that could lead to eclampsia may include:
- headaches
- visual changes
- liver pain (right upper quadrant of the abdomen)
- a sudden increase in swelling
- new onset nausea or vomiting
How can you lower your risk of eclampsia?
To reduce the risk of preeclampsia, doctors often prescribe daily low dose aspirin to higher-risk populations, such as individuals of advanced maternal age, to help control blood pressure.
“If people are at high risk for preeclampsia at baseline (history of preeclampsia, chronic [hypertension], diabetes, older age, etc.), then using baby aspirin through the pregnancy can help, along with looking at baseline liver and kidney health to have a comparator for later in pregnancy,” Prager said.
Prager added that if a person’s blood pressure becomes elevated during pregnancy, they should be assessed for preeclampsia.
Testing for preeclampsia may involve a lab technician administering a urine protein test and assessing different blood markers, Prager said, which may require increased surveillance and earlier delivery.
“The treatment is delivery of the placenta (and obviously the fetus), though some develop preeclampsia [or] eclampsia after delivery,” Prager explained.
Takeaway
Eclampsia is a deadly complication that may occur before, during, or after childbirth. It is what follows after a pregnant person experiences preeclampsia, which is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S.
Black women like Tori Bowie and Allyson Felix face a higher risk of developing preeclampsia. Bowie’s untimely death may have resulted from untreated preeclampsia, which led to eclampsia, her autopsy reported.
To minimize your risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia, it’s important to watch for the warning signs and report any possible symptoms to your healthcare team immediately.
“Recognizing and treating preeclampsia (if not preventing it) are the best ways to reduce the risk of eclampsia,” Prager said.
U.S. Olympian Tori Bowie Died From Eclampsia, Autopsy Finds. What to Know
Source: Pinoy Lang Sakalam
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