Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Peripheral arterial pulse wave analysis in women with pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension
Mica Spasojevic1, Simone A Smith, Jonathan M Morris
1Perinatal Research Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
Objective:
To compare peripheral pulse pressure waveforms in normal pregnancy, gestational hypertension (GH) and pre-eclampsia (PE).
Design:
Comparative study.
Setting:
Tertiary referral teaching hospital.
Sample:
Women with hypertensive disease in pregnancy and matched normal pregnant controls.
Methods:
Women in the third trimester of pregnancy with newly developed PE (n= 27) or GH (n= 33) were studied by radial artery applanation tonometry. Values were compared with those for gestational age matched normal pregnant women (n= 39).
Main Outcome Measures:
Augmentation Index.
Results:
Hypertension was of equal severity in PE and GH. Central augmentation pressure and augmentation index, indicating vasoconstriction, were mildly elevated in GH, but markedly elevated in PE.
Conclusion:
Non-invasive applanation tonometry discriminates among normal pregnancy, GH and PE, and may be useful to predict PE.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
01:16Pulse
The pulse serves as a clinical indicator...
01:11Pulse Assessment Sites
01:17Pulse amplitude and quality
A weak or absent pulse may indicate reduced cardiac output or poor left ventricular contraction, which can be signs of cardiovascular dysfunction or...
01:13Special considerations while measuring pulse
01:10Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure