Ecclampsia is defined as the association of hypertension, proteinuria, generalized edema, and seizures with pregnancy or the early post-partum period.

MR imaging reveals abnormal hyperintensities in the cortical and subcortical regions of the brain, predominantly in the occipital lobes. These changes are typically transient.
Vasogenic edema is postulated as the cause of the edema.

Vasospasm induced ischemia can cause cytotoxic edema. Hypertension may cause blood-brain-barrier breakdown. Both have been implicated in causing the edema of ecclampsia. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) can potentially distinguish between vasogenic and cytoxic edema. A recent report suggests that the culprit is probably vasogenic edema - since the DWI was increased in the affected regions.