Maternal whole blood viscosity in pregnancy hypertension

Hemoconcentration is prominent in preeclampsia. Concomitant changes in the flow properties of maternal blood, i.e. in whole blood viscosity (WBV), might be related to the occurrence of fetal or maternal complications. To test this hypothesis, WBV was estimated in 228 pregnancies. Patients were assigned to one of four groups according to maximum diastolic blood pressure. Significantly higher WBV values were found in the more hypertensive groups throughout pregnancy. WBV data, obtained between 26 and 36 weeks of amenorrhea, contributed significantly, independently of hypertension, to the prediction of fetal outcome. With regard to maternal complications, no significant contribution of WBV data could be established independently of blood pressure. The results support the hypothesis that WBV is a determining factor in the efficacy of placental perfusion.