This condition occurs when a patient with preeclampsia develops tonic-clonic seizures.

• A. HELLP syndrome
• B. Eclampsia
• C. Placental abruption
• D. DIC

Answer: (B)

This scenario shows the progression from preeclampsia to eclampsia, defined by the onset of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in a patient who has preeclampsia. Preeclampsia involves high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation; when seizures occur, it becomes eclampsia, a medical emergency requiring rapid stabilization, seizure prophylaxis with magnesium sulfate, blood pressure control, and delivery planning as appropriate. The other conditions have different defining features: HELLP syndrome centers on hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets; placental abruption involves premature placental separation with bleeding; DIC is a systemic coagulopathy. Seizures in the context of preeclampsia specifically point to eclampsia.