[Rheologic studies in intrauterine retardation and pregnancy-induced hypertension]

Hemorheological investigations were done in 23 pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation, 23 patients with pregnancy induced hypertension and 21 healthy pregnant women, of whom 10 regularly smoked. The rigidity of red cells was disturbed and the hematocrit was elevated by smoking. The same disturbances could be observed in women with intrauterine growth retardation. In addition, the erythrocyte aggregation was significantly elevated in patients with hypotrophic newborns at term. Pregnancy induced hypertension was associated with disturbances in all rheological parameters. Placental perfusion was significantly prolonged in all pathologic pregnancies.