Maternal haemodynamic profile in pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology: A pilot study

Singleton pregnancies obtained by assisted reproductive technology (ART) are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. Aim of this pilot study was to compare maternal hemodynamic profile in ART and spontaneous singleton pregnancies. Patients were enrollered during a third trimester routine obstetric examination. Maternal haemodynamic assessment was carried out by a single trained operator using an UltraSonic Cardiac Output Monitor in standardized conditions. Our pilot data suggests that women conceived after ART may have significantly lower Cardiac Output and significantly higher Systemic Vascular Resistance when compared to those conceiving spontaneously. These differences, if confirmed in larger studies, might explain the increased prevalence of adverse outcome, especially hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, in singleton ART pregnancies.