title: Change in pulse wave velocity throughout normal pregnancy and its value in predicting pregnancy-induced hypertension: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We longitudinally examined the changes of brachial to ankle distensibility using pulse wave velocity (PWV) throughout pregnancy and its difference between normal pregnancy and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-three pregnant women were included in this study. The PWV examinations were performed in a longitudinal way during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, and immediately and 1 month after delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal pregnancies, the PWV significantly decreased at the second trimester, increased from the third trimester through immediately after delivery, and decreased again at 1 month after delivery. In PIH patients, it increased in proportion to the progression of gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We monitored the longitudinal changes in PWV and constructed a PWV normogram during pregnancy. The predictive value of PWV and blood pressure for PIH was higher than that of blood pressure alone, suggesting the usefulness of measuring PWV to predict PIH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Iidanishi, Yamagata, Japan.
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oyama-Kato
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohmichi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Henmi
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Hirohisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurachi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010991:Plethysmography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000502:physiology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000502:physiology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology