The effect of maternal hemodynamics on fetal growth in hypertensive pregnancies.
Seventy-six pregnancies in which hypertension complicated pregnancy before 28 weeks' gestation were studied. In 36, hemodynamics were characterized by increased cardiac output and low vascular resistance; in 32, hemodynamics were characterized by high resistance; in eight hemodynamics crossed over from high output to high resistance during pregnancy. High-resistance hypertension was associated with a mean birth weight 1058 gm less than that in the low-resistance group (p = 0.001). The reduction in birth weight was due to a 4-week difference in gestational age (p = 0.001) and lower percentile weights for gestational age, 19th versus 39th (p = 0.005). Infants in the crossover group had low percentile weights and a high rate of intrauterine fetal death.
Easterling
T R
TR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle.
Benedetti
T J
TJ
Carlson
K C
KC
Brateng
D A
DA
Wilson
J
J
Schmucker
B S
BS
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*