Search

Objective: To study the association between cardiac function measured by myocardial performance index (MPI), blood pressures and angiogenic factors measured at the time of echocardiography in patients with and without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).Methods: We prospectively studied 189 pregnant women and evaluated whether changes in cardiac function observed on echocardiography were correlated with higher blood pressures and whether higher blood pressures were associated with antiangiogenic proteins (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase, sFlt1; soluble endoglin, sEng). Comprehensive echocardiograms, including measurement of MPI, were performed on all patients. sFlt1 and sEng levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Overall, 189 patients were divided into tertiles based on mean arterial pressure (MAP). The MPI was worst in tertile 3 (0.50 ± 0.15) compared to tertile 1 (0.42 ± 0.10), p = 0.0004. sFlt1 (pg/ml) and sEng (ng/ml) were highest in tertile 3 compared to tertile 1: 15055.37 vs. 1623.01 and 33.06 vs. 8.15, respectively, with p-value <0.001. In crude multivariate regression analysis, MAP was positively correlated with MPI (r = 0.32, p < 0.001), GLS (r = 0.54, p < 0.001), sFlt1 (r = 0.60, p < 0.001) and sEng (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). After adjustment for confounders, these relationships persisted between MAP and MPI (r = 0.31, p = 0.0003), GLS (r = 0.46, p < 0.001), sFlt1 (r = 0.56, p < 0.001) and sEng (r = 0.58, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Mean arterial pressure correlates with worsening cardiac function as measured by MPI and serum levels of angiogenic factors. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether a reduction in blood pressure will reverse changes in MPI or reduce levels of angiogenic proteins seen among women with HDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:  Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) can be diagnosed prior to labor, during labor, or postpartum. We evaluated whether the timing of HDP diagnosis impacts postpartum blood pressure (BP) outcomes., Study Design:  Secondary analysis of 384 patients with HDP from a trial evaluating furosemide use on BP outcomes. The timing of HDP diagnosis was categorized into diagnosis in the antepartum period, prior to labor versus diagnosis peripartum (during labor or first day of postpartum). Outcomes included time to resolution of hypertension and persistent hypertension 7 days' postpartum. Logistic and Cox regression models were used., Results:  Patients diagnosed in the peripartum period had a shorter median time to postpartum BP resolution after adjusting for severity of HDP, mode of delivery, and furosemide use (5.5 vs. 6.5 days, adjusted hazard ratio: 1.18, 95% confidence interval [1.11-1.25])., Conclusion:  Patients diagnosed with HDP in the peripartum period experience a faster BP resolution than those diagnosed in the antepartum period., Key Points: · HDP can be diagnosed before and during labor and postpartum.. · The timing of HDP diagnosis may have different implications for postpartum BP outcomes.. · Patients diagnosed with HDP in the peripartum period experienced a 24-hour shorter time to BP resolution.. · Timing of HDP diagnosis may provide an added window of opportunity to augment existing modalities of managing postpartum hypertension and related cardiovascular disease complications.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)