Echocardiographic assessment of cardiovascular hemodynamics in preeclampsia

To assess maternal cardiovascular function using echocardiography in normal and preeclamptic women in the third trimester of pregnancy.

40 subjects, 20 with preeclampsia and 20 normotensive controls with >34 weeks gestation and singleton pregnancy were recruited. Baseline characteristics, maternal and fetal outcome were studied with systolic and diastolic parameters on echocardiography.

The following parameters were higher in preeclamptic subjects as compared to normotensive controls-mean cardiac output (66.85 ± 4.56 ml/min vs. 56.1 ± 1.77 ml/min); mean LV diastolic mass (131.15 ± 16.85 vs. 104.90 ± 23.17 g); systolic mass (88.5 ± 7.34 vs. 83.33 ± 23.84 g); total vascular resistance (1396.85 ± 150.2 vs. 1204.5 ± 71.182 dyne, s cm(5)). Women with preeclampsia delivered smaller babies (2410 ± 426.16 g) as compared to normotensive controls (2895 ± 276.20 g). Student 't' test was used as a test of significance.

Women with preeclampsia have significant systolic and diastolic dysfunction compared to normotensive controls. Blood pressure monitoring alone is insufficient to identify effectively, risk of cardiovascular complications in these subjects.