title: Endothelial function progressively deteriorates during normal pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate changes in endothelial function throughout the gestational period in normal pregnancy and its relationship with plasma soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endothelial function was evaluated by reactive hyperemia index (RHI) using Endo-PAT2000 and plasma sFlt-1 levels were measured simultaneously by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RHI gradually deteriorated with increasing gestational age. Plasma sFlt-1 levels exhibited a gradual increase at late pregnancy and were inversely correlated with RHI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal endothelial function gradually deteriorates with increasing gestational age and there is an inverse correlation between endothelial function and plasma sFlt-1 levels in normal pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. gynef@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chigusa
authors.forename: Haruta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mogami
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Konishi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1