title: Endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in pre-eclampsia demonstrated by the EndoPAT method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The EndoPAT method has been used as a non-invasive method for assessing endothelial function in several non-pregnant populations. We investigated its possible use in assessing endothelial dysfunction in pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifteen participants were recruited and grouped as pre-eclamptic cases (105) and normotensive controls (110). Endothelial function and arterial stiffness were measured as reactive hyperaemia index and augmentation index, respectively, using the EndoPAT 2000 machine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reactive hyperaemia index was significantly lower in the pre-eclamptic group compared to the normotensive group (p < 0.05). Augmentation index on the other hand was significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group compared to the normotensive group (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EndoPAT method demonstrates endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa. Email: allen.meeme@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meeme
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Buga
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mammen
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Namugowa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*