Pulse wave reflection in currently and previously preeclamptic women.
OBJECTIVE
Disturbed maternal endothelial function is believed to be central in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and has been observed to persist for several years following the preeclamptic pregnancy. Endothelial dysfunction has been reported to cause increased pulse wave reflection, a measure of systemic arterial stiffness. This study tested the hypothesis that preeclampsia and a history of preeclampsia are associated with increased pulse wave reflection.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional case-control study of 26 pregnant women with preeclampsia, 26 pregnant controls, 22 normotensive nonpregnant previously preeclamptic women, and 22 nonpregnant controls. Pulse wave reflection was assessed by applanation tonometry on the radial artery.


RESULTS
Pregnant preeclamptic women had a significantly higher heart rate-adjusted augmentation index than did pregnant controls (23 +/- 1 vs. 8 +/- 1%, P < 0.001). The augmentation index of women with a history of preeclampsia was similar to that of the nonpregnant controls (9 +/- 2 vs. 9 +/- 2%, P = 0.78). In a multiple linear regression analysis (R2 = 0.76) the augmentation index of pregnant women was independently associated with a diagnosis of preeclampsia (P < 0.001) and heart rate (P < 0.001), but not with mean arterial blood pressure (P = 0.59).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that pulse wave reflection and, thus, systemic arterial stiffness are increased in pregnant women with preeclampsia, but not in normotensive nonpregnant women with a history of preeclampsia. The results support the concept of generalized vascular dysfunction in preeclampsia.
Rönnback
Mats
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. mats.ronnback@helsinki.fi
Lampinen
Katja
K
Groop
Per-Henrik
PH
Kaaja
Risto
R
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric