title: [Assessment of central hemodynamic properties of the arterial wall in women with previous preeclampsia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated viscoelastic properties of the arterial wall in women with previous preeclampsia (PE) compared to those with normal pregnancy (NP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study 45 women with previous PE and 55 with NP were included, matched for age (PE 38±6 vs. NP 38±5 years, NS) and body mass index: (PE 25±4 vs. NP 26±4 kg/m(2), NS) studied, respectively, 76±34 and 86±48 months after delivery. We assessed arterial distensibility - pulse wave velocity (PWV, Complior) and reflected waves (augmentation pressure [AP], mmHg) and augmentation index (AIx) - in the central pressure wave and blood pressure (BP) on 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PE showed higher (p<0.01) peripheral systolic blood pressure (SBP): PE 131±18 vs. NP 121±19, and central SBP: PE 122±18 vs. NP 110±19 mmHg, with less amplification of central-peripheral pressure: PE 10±4 vs. NP 12±5, p=0.041, and higher (p<0.05) AP: PE 10±3 vs. NP 8±2, and AIx: PE 26±5 vs. NP 20±5 mmHg, but PE and NP did not differ in pulse wave velocity. On ABPM, PE (n=39) vs. NP (n=33) had higher nighttime SBP: PE 121±10 vs. NP 108±10 mmHg and lower percentage nocturnal SBP fall: PE 11±6 vs. NP 18±11%, both p<0.02. During follow-up, the need for antihypertensive medication was seven times higher in PE than in NP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with previous PE have a greater risk of hypertension, higher nighttime BP values, blunted nocturnal BP fall and changes in central pressure suggestive of increased reflected waves and peripheral vascular resistance. These factors may contribute to their higher cardiovascular risk after pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Hipertensão Arterial e Risco Cardiovascular, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: jjpolonia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polónia
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Hipertensão Arterial e Risco Cardiovascular, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olival
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Hipertensão Arterial e Risco Cardiovascular, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Hipertensão Arterial e Risco Cardiovascular, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Hipertensão Arterial e Risco Cardiovascular, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal.
authors.forename: Loide
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Antecedentes de pré‐eclâmpsia; Aortic distensibility; Circadian blood pressure profile; Hipertensão; Hypertension; Ondas refletidas; Perfil tensional circadiário; Preeclampsia; Reflected waves; Rigidez aórtica