Background:

Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with changes in cardiovascular function (CVF), but whether these changes precede and persist in the clinical phase of the disease is still unknown.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in CVF during 22 weeks of gestation and one year after delivery in patients who developed PE vs. those with normotension (N). The association between CVF on 22 weeks of gestation and the development of PE was also analyzed.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective study including 260 normotensive primiparous women. Routine laboratory tests, 24-hour urine protein and blood pressure (BP) were measured on 22 weeks and one year after delivery. Cardiac index (CI) systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured by impedance cardiography. The population was divided into three groups according to the outcome during pregnancy: PE: G1, gestational hypertension (GH): G2 and normotension: G3. The results are presented as mean ± SD, ANOVA and post hoc test, p < 0.05.

Results:

Twelve patients evolved to PE, 18 to GH and 220 remained with N. In G1, CI was lower and BP, SVRI and PWV were higher than in G3 on 22 weeks and one year after delivery. In G2, values were always intermediate between G1 and G3. PWV and SVRI measured on 22 weeks resulted predictors of PE.

Conclusions:

Patients who developed PE had different CVF in the early stage of pregnancy than those with normotension. The early diagnosis of those changes could predict PE and thus contribute to prevent its complications.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · English ( pdf ) | Spanish ( pdf )