[Flow-mediated dilatation in the differential diagnosis of preeclampsia syndrome].
BACKGROUND
The preeclampsia syndrome is associated with endothelial dysfunction and the differential diagnosis between pure preeclampsia (PE) and superimposed preeclampsia (SPE) can be only be attained 12 weeks after delivery.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the assessment of endothelial function through flow-mediated dilatation in pregnant women with pure preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia.


METHODS
The flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery was carried out according to the recommendations of the International Brachial Artery Reactivity Task Force in pregnant women with preeclampsia syndrome. PE (n=14) and SPE (n=13) were diagnosed in the postpartum period according to the definitions of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy.


RESULTS
The median of the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in SPE (6.0%; 1.9-10.3) was decreased in comparison with the PE (13.6%;4.4-17.1), an apparently relevant difference , but not statistically significant (p = 0.08). The FMD < 10% was detected in 30.8% of the PE cases and in 69.2% of the SPE cases (p = 0.057). Significant differences could not be detected in the morphology of the uterine arteries between the PE and SPE cases through the Doppler spectrum.


CONCLUSIONS
The FMD of the brachial artery of patients with preeclampsia syndrome was not capable of differentiating between PE and SPE. However, the data suggest that SPE is associated with worse endothelial function I comparison to PE.
Filho
Edson Vieira da Cunha
EV
Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Mohr
Carolina
C
Filho
Breno José Acauan
BJ
Gadonski
Giovani
G
Paula
Leticia Germany
LG
Antonello
Ivan Carlos Ferreira
IC
Poli-de-Figueiredo
Carlos Eduardo
CE
Pinheiro-da-Costa
Bartira Ercilia
BE
D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology