Prediction of early and late preeclampsia by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy in the prediction of both early and late preeclampsia by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD), a biophysical marker for endothelial dysfunction.


METHODS
A total of 91 patients, considered at high risk for development of preeclampsia were submitted to brachial artery FMD between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.


RESULTS
Nineteen out of the selected patients developed preeclampsia, 8 in its early form and 11 in the late form. With a cut-off value of 6.5%, the FMD sensitivity for early preeclampsia prediction was 75.0%, with specificity of 73.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 32.4% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.9%. For the prediction of late preeclampsia, sensitivity = 83.3%, specificity = 73.2%, PPV = 34.4% and NPV = 96.2% were observed. And for the prediction of all associated forms of preeclampsia, sensitivity = 84.2%, specificity = 73.6%, PPV = 45.7% and NPV = 94.6% were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
FMD of the brachial artery is a test with good accuracy in the prediction of both early and late preeclampsia, which may represent a positive impact on the follow-up of pregnant women at high risk for developing this syndrome.
PhD, Researcher, Center of Fetal Medicine, Hospital das Clínicas - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Augusto Henriques Fulgêncio
AH
Brandão
Physicians at the Maternity of Hospital das Clínicas - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Aline Aarão
AA
Evangelista
Physicians at the Maternity of Hospital das Clínicas - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Raphaela Menin Franco
RM
Martins
PhD, Associate Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Henrique Vítor
HV
Leite
PhD, Full Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Antônio Carlos Vieira
AC
Cabral
Prediction; Preeclampsia; Ultrasonography; Vascular endothelium