title: [Flow-mediated dilatation in the differential diagnosis of preeclampsia syndrome].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Edson Vieira da Cunha
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Breno José Acauan
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Giovani
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gadonski
authors.forename: Leticia Germany
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.forename: Ivan Carlos Ferreira
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Antonello
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Poli-de-Figueiredo
authors.forename: Bartira Ercilia
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Pinheiro-da-Costa
mesh_terms: 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