eclampsiahol: eclampsia n. a rare and serious condition, affecting women either at the end of pregnancy or shortly afterbirth, in which the whole body is affected by convulsions and the patient eventually passes into a coma. Blood pressure is high, the urine contains proteins, and the ankles and other parts swell because of the accumulation of water in the tissues (oedema). Eclampsis is a threat to the life of both baby and mother. It represents an advanced stage of *toxaemia of pregnancy and can be prevented by regular antenatal examinations.