COMPARISON OF LOW DOSE MAGNESIUM SULPHATE TO STANDARD PRITCHARD REGIME FOR TREATMENT OF ECLAMPSIA

Objective: To compare the effect of magnesium sulphate in eclamptic patients receiving standard Pritchard regimen with those on low dose Magnesium sulphate. Study Design: Randomized control trial. Setting: This study is conducted at Gynecology & Obstetrics department of Lahore General Hospital for the six months duration of study from 4th January 2018 to 3rd July 2018. Subject and method: Through Consecutive non-probability purposive sampling, Total admitted 100 cases (50 in each group) of eclampsia after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study. After taking informed consent, they were divided into 2 groups group A & B by random allocation based on table of random numbers. All patients in group A received standard Pritchard regimen, while those in Group B were given low dose Magnesium sulphate. Both groups received same antihypertensive medications (methyl dopa & nefidipine). Patient was observed for absence or presence of knee jerk, oliguria and seizure recurrence. Results; In our study, only 14% of individuals who received low dose magnesium sulphate developed oliguria compared to 18% of standard Pritchard regimen (p-value = 0.585) .Similarly only 12% individuals among low dose group developed absent knee reflex compared to 14% of individuals who received Pritchard dose (p-value = 0.766). However, seizure recurrence was slightly increased among low dose group i.e., 10% compared to 8% of those who received standard Pritchard regimen (p-value = 0.727). Statistically low dose magnesium sulphate has been equally comparable for the treatment of eclampsia. Conclusion; There is no statistical difference among the low dose group compared to Pritchard regimen, so low dose magnesium sulphate can be instituted in resource restricted areas of population where getting serum magnesium levels is not possible.