Prediction of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy by Measuring Cardiac Output in Early Pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy continue to be unresolved dilemma even today, with dangerous repercussions on maternal, perinatal morbidity mortality. The prediction becomes imperative for prevention. During pregnancy, normally there is increase in blood volume, heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output, however, there may be variations and their implications. The present study was done to know the predictive value of measurement of cardiac output in early pregnancy for knowing the occurrence of hypertensive disorders. The cardiac output (CO) was measured at 10 + 2 weeks, 14 + 2 weeks, 18 + 2 weeks, 22 + 2 weeks, 26 + 2 weeks, 30 + 2 weeks of pregnancy and 7 days post partum. Of 500 cases studied, in those with high cardiac output, 7.4% developed hypertensive disorders, of cases who had normal cardiac output , 0.5% developed hypertensive disorders and cases in whom cardiac output was less, no one developed hypertensive disorders . The CO at 10+2 weeks had high positive and high correlation with CO at increasing gestation. Those with high CO at 102 weeks had a risk of developing hypertensive disorders with significant co relation between high maternal CO and occurrence of hypertensive disorders.