title: Flow-mediated dilation in brachial artery in the second half of pregnancy and prediction of pre-eclampsia.
abstract: Endothelial injury and increased vascular reactivity are involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension). To investigate whether flow-mediated dilation (endothelium-dependent dilation) and the reactive hyperemic response can predict pre-eclampsia, we prospectively measured flow-mediated dilation and the Doppler flow velocity pattern (V, cm/s) in the brachial artery using high-resolution ultrasound in 43 pregnant women (32+/-5 years old) in the second half of their pregnancy, and compared the findings with traditional risk factors. Regarding the Doppler flow velocity pattern, the pulsatility index (PI)=(systolic V-diastolic V)/mean V and resistance index (RI)=(systolic V-diastolic V)/systolic V were calculated. For the flow-mediated dilation, the per cent diameter changes were determined based on those from baseline to hyperemic conditions. Nine women suffered from pre-eclampsia and 34 women remained normotensive. Only flow-mediated dilation was found to be significantly lower in the subsequently developed pre-eclampsia patients (1.6+/-1.0% in subsequently developed pre-eclampsia patients vs 11.0+/-4.5% in normotensive patients, P<0.05). Neither the other traditional factors nor the Doppler flow velocity pattern were significantly different between the subsequently developed pre-eclampsia and normotensive patients. If a normal cutoff value of 3.0% obtained from age-matched 14 nonpregnant women (32+/-7 years old) in our laboratory was used, the positive predictive value of flow-mediated dilation (<3.0%) for subsequent pre-eclampsia is 90% and the negative predictive value is 100%. In conclusion, flow-mediated dilation in brachial artery can be a simple and noninvasive modality to predict pre-eclampsia.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000502:physiology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*