Supine pressor (roll-over) test: an evaluation

One hundred supine pressor (roll-over) tests were reviewed and results were compared with clinical outcome and the literature. The present study revealed statistical differences, except for test sensitivity, in a comparison of all pregnancies without a prior history of hypertension, with subgroupings excluding patients with history of or potential urinary disease and patients with a recorded elevation in blood pressure occurring only in the early postpartum period. This lent support to the lowest false positive and false negative rates observed, 46% and 27%, respectively, seen in the subgroup having neither history of urinary disease nor significant potential for renal disease. For this subgroup, sensitivity of the test was 60%. Data were combined to create a hypothetical situation and reveal maximal potential in test predictability.