An accurate automated blood pressure device for use in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia: the Microlife 3BTO-A.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of an automated blood pressure device (Microlife 3BTO-A) in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia according to the British Hypertension Society (BHS) protocol.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Antenatal ward and clinics at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.


METHODS
One hundred and five pregnant women including 35 women with non-proteinuric hypertension and 35 with pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Two trained observers took nine sequential same-arm measurements from each woman. Measurements alternated between a mercury sphygmomanometer and the device.


METHODS
Grading criteria of the BHS protocol (A/B grade = pass; C/D grade = fail).


RESULTS
The device passed the BHS protocol by achieving an A/B grade. It also achieved criteria of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation for systolic and diastolic pressures respectively, in normotensive [-0.5 (5.7) mmHg; -0.07 (7.7) mmHg], non-proteinuric hypertensive [-3.3 (6.9) mmHg; -2.4 (6.6) mmHg] and pre-eclamptic pregnancy [-4.1 (6.4) mmHg; -1.3 (7.9) mmHg].


CONCLUSIONS
The Microlife 3BTO-A can be recommended for use in a pregnant population, including pre-eclampsia, according to the BHS protocol.
Reinders
A
A
Maternal and Fetal Research Unit, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
Cuckson
A C
AC
Lee
J T M
JT
Shennan
A H
AH
D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity