Comparison of Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity as Measured in Preeclamptic, Healthy Pregnant, and Nonpregnant Women by Transcranial Doppler Sonography

Abstract

Aim: To test the hypothesis that the middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAV) is altered in preeclamptic pregnant women as compared with healthy pregnant and nonpregnant women. Methods: Preeclamptic (n = 21) and healthy pregnant (n = 17) as well as healthy nonpregnant (n = 29) women underwent transcranial Doppler MCAV measurements. The mean MCAV values were compared between the different groups. Anova combined with Bonferroni correction was used for statistical analysis. Results: The MCAV was significantly higher in nonpregnant women (mean ± SE 73.0 ± 2.12 cm/s) as compared with healthy pregnant women (67.0 ± 1.8 cm/s, p = 0.0356). Preeclamptic women showed significantly higher MCAV values (83.5 ± 2.1 cm/s) as compared with nonpregnant females (73.0 ± 2.12 cm/s, p = 0.0014). Similar to nonpregnant women, healthy pregnant women showed lower MCAV values (67.0 ± 1.8 cm/s) as compared with preeclamptic women (83.5 ± 2.1 cm/s, p = 0.001). After Bonferroni correction the MCAV values in patients suffering from preeclampsia were still statistically significantly higher as compared with the two other groups. Conclusions: We detected increased resting MCAV values in pregnant women with preeclampsia. In our opinion, this finding refers to arteriolar dilation of the resistance vessels of the brain. Further studies are needed to prove altered vasoreactivity responses of the brain resistance arterioles in preeclampsia.

Ophthalmic artery Doppler as a measure of severe pre‐eclampsia

“…Central nervous system hemodynamic modifications in pre‐eclampsia [18–20] are a controversial issue. We found that pre‐eclamptic women have significant alterations in the ophthalmic artery Doppler waveform, with striking elevation of the diastolic flow after the protodiastolic notching compared with healthy pregnant women.…”

Estudo evolutivo do comportamento hemodinâmico das artérias oftálmicas em puérperas com diagnóstico de pré-eclâmpsia na gestação

“…Dentre as alterações maternas observadas na pré-eclâmpsia, destacam-se as relacionadas ao sistema nervoso central, representadas pela cefaleia, alterações visuais (visão turva, escotomas, fotopsia e amaurose), confusão mental e diminuição do estado de consciência (ZATIK et al, 2001). A presença de convulsões caracteriza o quadro de eclâmpsia.…”