title: Effects of vaginal delivery, cesarean section and exposure to labor on endothelial function of pregnant women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was undertaken to assess the influence of labor and cesarean section on endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) was measured before and after delivery for an assessment of endothelial function in three groups: (1) the Vaginal delivery group (with spontaneous labor or induction of labor, n = 48), (2) the Elective C/S group (with a cesarean planned, n = 20), and (3) the C/S after FP group (scheduled for vaginal delivery but required to have an emergency cesarean section because of failure in progress, n = 11).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant changes between the antepartum and postpartum FMD values in the Vaginal delivery group and the Elective C/S group but not in the C/S after FP group (P < 0.001, P = 0.023 and P = 0.22 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations suggest that labor may enhance endothelial function and that cesarean section may impair endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Nishisaitama chuo National Hospital, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan; Department of Gynecology, Nishisaitama Chuo National Hospital, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. Electronic address: koba9akira@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hisaaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, University of Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, University of Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014664:Vasodilation
keywords: Cesarean section; Endothelial function; Flow-mediated vasodilatation; Post-term pregnancy; Vaginal delivery