OS097. Hemodynamic assesment by applanation tonometry in women with early and late preeclampsia

Pregnancy Hypertens. 2012 Jul;2(3):231. doi: 10.1016/j.preghy.2012.04.098. Epub 2012 Jun 13.

Abstract

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with profound changes in the maternal cardiovascular system. The new concept of early and late preeclampsia established the hypothesis that these two entities may be associated with different models of vascular adaptation. Studies of central hemodynamics are limited. The applanation tonometry is able to evaluate, noninvasively, several vascular features and can be used to study the pathophyology of different forms of preeclampsia.

Objectives: To compare vascular parameters of pulse wave analysis in pregnant women with early and late preeclampsia, determined by applanation tonometry.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving pregnant women with 34 early-onset PE (<34 weeks) and 51 late-onset (⩾34 weeks) PE. Central blood pressure, peripheral and central pulse pressure, augmentation index, the augmentation pressure, subendocardial viability ratio and the ejection duration were assessed noninvasively using applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor ®). Data were expressed as means±SD or as median and percentage. The mean was used for parameters with normal distribution and median for parameters that were not normally distribution. Comparisons between groups were performed using t-test, Mann-Whitney test or chi-square(c(2)) for numerical and categorical data, respectively. It was considered a significance level of 5%. Statistical analysis were done using SPSS 10.5.

Results: Compared to late-onset PE group, women that developed early-onset PE had higher augmentation index (24.2±13.1 vs 18.8±12.5; p=0.03). Any other paremeters presented significant differences between the groups.

Conclusion: We found that early-onset PE is characterized by increased maternal arterial stiffness when compared late-onset PE, using applanation tonometry.