Noninvasive test of microvascular endothelial function in normal and hypertensive pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To examine microvascular endothelial cell function in vivo in pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Iontophoresis of acetylcholine (Ach), which gives rise to endothelial cell dependent vasodilatation, and of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), which elicits vasodilatation independently of functioning vascular endothelium.


METHODS
Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.


METHODS
Ten pre-eclamptic patients, ten healthy pregnant women and ten healthy nonpregnant women were examined.


METHODS
The degree of vasodilatation following iontophoretic administration of Ach compared with SNP was recorded with a laser Doppler technique, the data being analysed on a personal computer.


RESULTS
Both Ach and SNP administration resulted in marked vasodilatation; the magnitude of the vasodilatation was similar in the three groups of women.


CONCLUSIONS
Following iontophoretic administration of endothelial cell dependent or independent vasodilatators, laser Doppler measurement of blood flow demonstrated no microvascular endothelial cell dysfunction in pre-eclamptic women.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
E
E
Eneroth-Grimfors
L E
LE
Lindblad
M
M
Westgren
C
C
Ihrman-Sandahl
S
S
Bevegård
D000109:Acetylcholine; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008833:Microcirculation; D009599:Nitroprusside; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy
D009599:Nitroprusside; D000109:Acetylcholine