Early diastolic time intervals during hypertensive pregnancy

Abstract

Summary: Early diastolic time intervals have been assessed by means of the echopolycardiographic method in 17 pregnant women who developed hypertension during pregnancy (HP) and in 14 normal pregnant women (N). Systolic time intervals (STI), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), and mean velocity of myocardial fiber shortening (VCF) were also evaluated. Recordings were performed in the left lateral decubitus (LLD) and then in the supine decubitus (SD). In LLD, isovolumic relaxation period (IRP) was prolonged in the hypertensive pregnant women compared with normal pregnant women (HP 51f12.5ms, N 32.4f15msp<0.05), whereastimeof the mitral valve maximum opening (DE) was not different in the groups. There was no difference in SV, EF, and mean VCF, whereas STI showed only a significant (p <0.05) lengthening of pre-ejection period (PEP) in HP. When the subjects shifted from the left lateral to the supine decubitus position, left ventricular ejection time index (LVETi) and SV decreased significantly (p <0.05) in both normotensive hypertensive pregnant women. IRP and PEP lengthened significantly (p < 0.05) only in normals, whereas they were unchanged in HP. DE time did not vary in either group. In conclusion, hypertension superimposed on pregnancy induces lengthening of IRP, as well as of PEP, and minimizes the effects of the postural changes in preload on the above-mentioned time intervals.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiovascular Hemodynamics in Preeclampsia

“…The hemodynamics of preeclampsia is a subject of controversies. Cross-sectional studies of women with preeclampsia have revealed diverse hemodynamic findings such as elevated cardiac output [2], high vascular resistance and reduced cardiac output [3] and reduced myocardial contractility [4]. The data on changes in left ventricular diastolic function is scarce.…”