Maternal Arterial Stiffness Before Pre-Eclampsia

Sample size: 140 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Savvidou Makrina D., Kaihura Christina, Anderson James M., Nicolaides Kypros H.

Primary Institution: Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Do changes in maternal arterial stiffness occur before the onset of pre-eclampsia in at-risk women?

Increased maternal arterial stiffness, as assessed by pulse wave velocity, predates the development of pre-eclampsia in at-risk women.

Women who developed pre-eclampsia had higher blood pressures compared to those who did not.
Pulse wave velocity was significantly higher in the pre-eclampsia group.
The study included a diverse group of women with varying demographics.

This study found that women who are likely to develop pre-eclampsia have stiffer arteries during pregnancy, which can be measured early on.

Cross-sectional study involving 140 pregnant women assessed for arterial stiffness using applanation tonometry.

The study is cross-sectional and cannot comment on longitudinal changes in arterial stiffness during pregnancy.

70 women with normal uterine artery Doppler and 70 with abnormal results, including various maternal characteristics.

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