What question did this study set out to answer?

February 8, 2008HypertensionOpen Access

Maternal Wave Reflections and Arterial Stiffness in Normal Pregnancy as Assessed by Applanation Tonometry

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Why the study?

Does normal pregnancy alter central aortic blood pressures, wave reflection, and arterial stiffness compared to nonpregnant controls?

Key Points

This study aims to assess central aortic blood pressures, wave reflection, and arterial stiffness during normal pregnancy.
Cross sectional study involving 193 pregnant women and 23 nonpregnant controls, matched for age and height.
Assessment of maternal central aortic blood pressures and arterial stiffness using applanation tonometry.
Measurements included mean arterial pressure, systolic and diastolic BP, and augmentation index throughout gestation.
Pregnant women showed lower mean arterial pressure (85+/-8.9 mm Hg vs 81.1+/-7.2 mm Hg; P=0.01) and central systolic BP (103+/-11 mm Hg vs 96+/-8 mm Hg; P=0.001).
Significant decrease in augmentation index (19+/-11% vs 4+/-12%; P<0.001) reaching its lowest at midpregnancy.
Pulse wave velocity differences were marginal and not significant after adjustments for maternal age and mean arterial pressure.

Structured PICO

Does normal pregnancy alter central aortic blood pressures, wave reflection, and arterial stiffness compared to nonpregnant controls?

Population

193 women with normal singleton pregnancies at 11 to 41 weeks of gestation and 23 nonpregnant controls, matched for age and height.

Intervention

Applanation tonometry assessment during normal pregnancy

Comparator

Nonpregnant controls matched for age and height

Outcome

Maternal central aortic blood pressures, wave reflection (augmentation index), and arterial stiffness (aortic and brachial pulse wave velocity)surrogate

Normal pregnancy is associated with a significant reduction in central blood pressure and wave reflection, with the augmentation index reaching its nadir at midpregnancy.

Discussion

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Implication

Associated with lower central pressures and wave reflection in pregnancy; leaves open prognostic value and clinical utility pending longitudinal data.

Cite This Study

Macedo et al. (2008) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1d0d7873c56dd1bd2f13de https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.106062

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Implication

Associated with lower central pressures and wave reflection in pregnancy; leaves open prognostic value and clinical utility pending longitudinal data.