Characteristics of heart, arteries, and veins in low and high cardiac output preeclampsia

Abstract

Objective: To assess the feasibility of non-invasive measurements of maternal cardiac output in relation to birth weight percentile and cardiovascular physiology in preeclampsia.

Study design: In a cohort of 62 women with preeclampsia, impedance cardiography was used to measure cardiac output and to evaluate heart and arteries. Venous characteristics were assessed by combined electrocardiogram-Doppler ultrasonography. Statistical differences were evaluated by Mann-Whitney U-tests.

Results: Cardiac output correlated with birth weight percentile (P=.002), with more small for gestational age newborns in low cardiac output preeclampsia (<7.5L/min) than in high cardiac output preeclampsia (≥8.9L/min) (12/29 vs. 2/16, P=.044). This was associated with lower aortic flow indices and shorter venous pulse transit times in low than in high cardiac output preeclampsia.

Conclusion: Non-invasive impedance cardiography measurements of maternal cardiac output correlate with birth weight percentile and are associated with different functionality of heart, arteries, and veins in low and high cardiac output preeclampsia.

Keywords: Cardiovascular profiling; Combined electrocardiogram-Doppler ultrasonography; Impedance cardiography; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy.