[Circadian blood pressure rhythm in preeclampsia as a predictor of maternal and obstetrical outcome].
BACKGROUND
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-induced multiorganic disease. The incidence is 5 - 7 % in all pregnant women. To assess the value of circadian blood pressure rhythm in preeclamptic women, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring might be useful. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of circadian blood pressure rhythm for the maternal and obstetrical outcome in patients with mild preeclampsia.


METHODS
Sixty-six patients with mild preeclampsia underwent 24-hour blood pressure monitoring between 29 and 39 weeks gestation. Twenty-eight patients with normal circadian blood pressure rhythm were compared with thirty-eight patients with suspended circadian blood rhythm.


RESULTS
There was no difference in age, body mass index, gravidity, parity, miscarriage, or fetal outcome between the two groups. The rate of secondary caesarean section was 39.5 % in the suspended circadian blood pressure group and 21.4 % in the normal circadian blood pressure group, respectively (P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with mild preeclampsia, the circadian blood pressure rhythm appears to be unsuitable as a screening test. Further research is required for more etiological and pathophysiological insights into the development of clinically useful tools with predictive value.
Munz
W
W
Universitäts-Frauenklinik der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. wmunz@uni-mainz.de
Seufert
R
R
Steiner
E
E
Pollow
K
K
Brockerhoff
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D015148:Cardiotocography; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008750:Methyldopa