Blood pressure variability in pregnant women with risk factors of preeclempsia

Abstract

Aim. To assess the short-term and long-term variability of blood pressure in women, starting from early pregnancy, to predict the development of complications of gestation, including preeclempsia.

Methods. In 131 pregnant women, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, as well as short-term (intra-visit) and long-term (inter-visit) blood pressure variability were assessed during the gestation period and 6 weeks after delivery. At the end of gestation period, depending on the identified complications, all study participants were divided into four groups: group 1 - control (healthy); group 2 - pregnant with preeclempsia; group 3 - with placental insufficiency; group 4 - with chronic arterial hypertension. In patients with placental insufficiency the indices of fetal growth retardation were also analyzed.

Results. In group 4, starting from the second trimester, higher values of short-term blood pressure variability were demonstrated, which increased as pregnancy progressed. Long-term blood pressure variability increased in groups 2 and 4, starting from the second trimester. In pregnant women with fetal growth retardation in the first trimester, blood pressure variability was higher than in pregnant controls and in the second trimester it was higher than in the group with the subsequent development of preeclempsia. Thus, during pregnancy complicated by preeclempsia or placental insufficiency with fetal growth retardation, high long-term blood pressure variability was observed. At the same time, the highest values were observed in the third trimester.

Conclusion. The assessment of long-term blood pressure variability from the early gestation seems to be an effective tool for detecting preclinical changes in the body of a pregnant woman, preceding the development of preeclempsia and fetal growth retardation, and in the presence of risk factors of preeclampsia allows narrowing the group of patients for target follow-up and prevention.

Keywords

pregnancy / preeclempsia / chronic arterial hypertension / placental insufficiency / fetal growth retardation

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Mayanskaya S.D., Ganeeva A.V., Gabidullina R.I.