SERIAL PLASMA ONCOTIC PRESSURE LEVELS AND ECHOENCEPHALOGRAPHY DURING AND AFTER DELIVERY IN SEVERE PRE-ECLAMPSIA

Abstract Plasma colloid osmotic pressure (PCOP) and echoencephalograms were monitored serially during and after labour in nine nulliparous severe pre-eclamptics receiving parenteral fluids, including infusions of magnesium sulphate and hydralazine. Nine normotensive, age-matched, nulliparous women in labour served as controls. PCOP, lower in the pre-eclamptics (16·1±SD 0·6 mm Hg vs 19·9±0·7 mm Hg in controls, p vs 22·7±0·8 mm Hg; p