Cerebro vascular reactivity (CVR) of middle cerebral artery in response to CO2 5% inhalation in preeclamptic women.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the cerebro vascular reactivity (CVR) of middle cerebral artery (MCA) in response to CO2 5% inhalation between preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women, also, between mild and severe preeclampsia.


METHODS
A comparative study was performed on 61 women with preeclampsia and 65 normotensive pregnant women who were in the third trimester of gestation. MCA transcranial Doppler ultrasound was used to measure CVR in response to CO2 5% inhalation. Pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), blood pressure, maternal age, gestational age and gravidity were also recorded.


RESULTS
Baseline PI and RI were lower in the preeclamptic group (p < 0.05). Inhalation of CO2 5% caused significant increase in CVR among normotensive pregnant women in comparison with preeclamptic group (1.006 ± 0.229 versus 0.503 ± 0.209, p = 0.0001). Significantly, more cerebral vasodilatation was found among mild preeclamptic women in comparison with severe preeclamptic women (0.583 ± 0.193 versus 0.383 ± 0.173, p = 0.0001). The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis revealed acceptable difference between CO2 stimulation test of preeclamptic and normotensive women (Area under curve = 0.973, p = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
CVR in response to CO2 5% is less in preeclamptic pregnant women than normotensives, also, in severe preeclampsia, it is less than mild preeclampsia.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Elaheh
E
Sariri
Mansoureh
M
Vahdat
Afsaneh Shariati
AS
Behbahani
Mohammad
M
Rohani
Maryam
M
Kashanian
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D002245:Carbon Dioxide