Pre-eclampsia is associated with impaired baroreceptor reflex function independent of blood pressure levels, contributing to blood pressure instability.
Summary In normotensive pregnancy control of the arterial pressure by the baroreceptor reflex is set at a high level of sensitivity. The baroreceptor reflex sensitivity is diminished in chronic hypertension both in the nonpregnant and pregnant. In pre‐eclampsia there is interference with baroreceptor function. This is implicated in the instability of the blood‐pressure in this condition and in the lower degree of fall of blood pressure during sleep. The loss of baroreceptor function is not due to the raised level of the blood pressure.
S. A. Seligman (Sat,) studied this question.