Autonomic imbalance captures maternal and fetal circulatory response to pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a gestational disease featured by hypertension, arterial systemic vasculopathy, multiple organ failure and fetal compromise. The aim of the investigation was to determine the role of maternal respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in regulation of the fetal circulatory system in case of healthy pregnancy and in PE.

The investigation of maternal and fetal HRV and fetal CTG variables in 106 patients at 34-40 weeks of gestation was performed. 30 of them had healthy pregnancy and were involved in the Group I. In Group II 44 pregnant women with mild-moderate PE were observed. 32 patients with severe PE were monitored in Group III.

The maternal sympathetic overactivity modulated HRV in PE by suppressing total power (TP) and parasympathetic tone. The lack of RSA was explored in preeclamptic patients. The centralization of hemodynamics was a result of the hypersympatheticotonia in severe PE. Fetal circulatory response to PE featured by an increased sympathetic tone. The modulated fetal CTG variables captured the suppression of fetal biophysical activity and the development of fetal distress in severe PE. Strong relationship between maternal and fetal TPs, maternal and fetal RMSSDs was found in healthy pregnancy. The correlations between the maternal and fetal TPs, the maternal and fetal RMSSDs in the patients with severe PE were disturbed.

The maternal RSA propagated its influence on the fetal autonomic nervous regulation in normal gestation. The maternal and fetal hemodynamic coupling was reduced in PE.