Related Experiment Videos

Elevated midtrimester mean arterial blood pressure in women with severe preeclampsia

J L Atterbury1, L J Groome, S L Baker

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, Mobile 36617, USA.

Although early identification of pregnant women who are at risk for severe preeclampsia may help reduce maternal-perinatal sequelae, an adequate screening test for this disorder has not been described. The purpose of this study was to determine if a group of women (n = 57) who developed severe preeclampsia had a higher midtrimester mean arterial pressure (MAP-2) than a matched group of women (n = 57) who remained normotensive throughout pregnancy and the puerperium. It was found that women who developed severe preeclampsia had a significantly higher MAP-2 than normotensive women and significantly more preeclamptic subjects had an MAP-2 > or = 85 mmHg than did control subjects. Thus, an elevated MAP-2 may help identify women who are at risk for the development of severe preeclampsia.

Related Concept Videos