Cerebrovascular Dysfunction in Preeclamptic Pregnancies

Curr Hypertens Rep. 2015 Aug;17(8):64. doi: 10.1007/s11906-015-0575-8.

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive, multisystem disorder of pregnancy that affects several organ systems, including the maternal brain. Cerebrovascular dysfunction during preeclampsia can lead to cerebral edema, seizures, stroke, and potentially maternal mortality. This review will discuss the effects of preeclampsia on the cerebrovasculature that may adversely affect the maternal brain, including cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation and blood-brain barrier disruption and the resultant clinical outcomes including posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and maternal stroke. Potential long-term cognitive outcomes of preeclampsia and the role of the cerebrovasculature are also reviewed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / complications
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Cognition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pre-Eclampsia / physiopathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Stroke / etiology
  • White Matter / blood supply